1. What gift did Jesus promise His disciples when He went away?
"If ye love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you forever; even the SPIRIT OF TRUTH; whom the world can not receive." John 14: 15-17.
2. To whom among His followers is the gift of the Spirit vouchsafed?
"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized EVERY ONE OF YOU in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto YOU, and to your CHILDREN, and to ALL that are afar off, even as MANY AS THE LORD OUR GOD SHALL CALL." Acts 2: 38, 39.
NOTE.—The Spirit of God comes to every soul upon earth to convict and convince of sin, of righteousness, of judgment. John 16: 8-11. Into the life of the believer in the Lord Jesus Christ comes that Spirit, to cleanse of sin, to quicken conscience, to give new life, to sanctify and save. See the Bible reading of last week. But the student must note the distinction between the gift of the Spirit to every believer, to sanctify and save, and the gifts of the Spirit, or spiritual gifts, bestowed for service.
3. Of what would the apostle not have us ignorant?
"Now CONCERNING SPIRITUAL GIFTS, brethren, I would not have you ignorant." 1 Cor. 12: 1.
4. When did Jesus Christ bestow these gifts upon His church?
"Wherefore He saith, WHEN HE ASCENDED UP ON HIGH, He led captivity captive, and GAVE GIFTS UNTO MEN." Eph. 4: 8.
5. Through what agency does Christ bestow these gifts?
"Now there are diversities of gifts, but the SAME SPIRIT. And there are differences of administrations, but the SAME LORD. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the SAME GOD which worketh all in all." 1 Cor. 12: 4-6.
6. What are some of these gifts?
"For to one is given by the Spirit the word of WISDOM; to another the word of KNOWLEDGE by the same Spirit; to another FAITH by the same Spirit; to another the GIFTS OF HEALING by the same Spirit; to another the WORKING OF MIRACLES; to another PROPHETS; to another DISCERNING OF SPIRITS; to another divers KINDS OF TONGUES; to another the INTERPRETATION OF TONGUES." 1 Cor. 12: 8-10.
"And He gave some, APOSTLES; and some, PROPHETS; and some, EVANGELISTS; and some, PASTORS and TEACHERS." Eph. 4: 11.
7. For what purpose did He bestow these gifts?
"For the PERFECTING of the SAINTS, for the WORK of the MINISTRY, for the EDIFYING of the BODY OF CHRIST." Eph. 4: 12.
"But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to EVERY MAN TO PROFIT WITHAL." 1 Cor. 12: 7.
8. Does God invest each and all with the same gifts?
"Having then gifts DIFFERING according to the grace that is given to us." Rom. 12: 6.
"And God hath set some in the church, first APOSTLES, secondarily PROPHETS, thirdly TEACHERS, after that MIRACLES, then gifts of HEALINGS, HELPS, GOVERNMENTS, diversities of TONGUES. Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?" 1 Cor. 12: 28-30.
9. Is it proper for us to desire great gifts?
"But COVET EARNESTLY the BEST GIFTS: and yet show I unto you a more excellent way." 1 Cor. 12: 31.
10. With whom does the bestowal of the gift rest?
"But all these WORKETH that one and the SELFSAME SPIRIT, dividing to every man severally as HE will." 1 Cor. 12: 11.
NOTE.—It is well to covet excellent gifts, gifts which we can use for God; but it is better always to remember that the gift or gifts we can best use are those given by the Spirit. God knows our ability to use, knows our weaknesses, knows our limitations; and He will always bestow the proper gift or gifts if we are prepared to receive it and use it to His glory.
11. For how long are these gifts to be 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." Eph. 4: 13.
"For we know in PART, and we prophesy in PART. But WHEN THAT WHICH IS PERFECT IS COME, then that which is in part shall be done away." 1 Cor. 13: 9, 10.
NOTE.—The perfect man—Christ Jesus "the Head," and His church "the body"—is not yet complete. The Former waits and pleads with all the agony of that prayer recorded in John 17: "That they all may be one; as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in Us: that the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me." Verse 21. The body is scattered in hundreds of fragments and units in Babylon, and to them is He calling. "The fulness of Christ" is not yet manifest. "That which is perfect" has not yet come. The gifts are still needed; and he who would teach otherwise is in that teaching setting aside God's plan in Christ Jesus, depriving the church of her power, and is leaving her open to every weakness and deception of the enemy, while he endeavors to supplement her infinite need by human devices and subterfuges. There is no substitute for the Spirit of God.
12. To what are these gifts likened in two parables of Jesus?
"A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. And he called his ten SERVANTS, and delivered them ten POUNDS, and said unto them, Occupy till I come." Luke 19: 12, 13.8
"For the kingdom of heaven is as a man traveling into a far country, who called his OWN SERVANTS, and delivered unto them his goods. And unto one he gave five TALENTS, to another two, and to another one; to every man ACCORDING to his several ABILITY; and straightway took his journey. Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money." Matt. 25: 14-18.
NOTE.—The pound (the largest denomination in Roman money) and the talent (the largest in Hebrew) are used to illustrate the worth and preciousness and use of spiritual gifts. A study of these parables will show that the pounds and talents are identical with the "gifts." These were bestowed at the same time as the gifts, when Christ ascended; (2) They were given by the same One; (3) They were given to the same ones—"His servants"—"His own servants;" (4) They were given for the same purpose—for profit; (5) They were given for the same time, till the Nobleman returned, till His church was made complete; (6) They are not natural, or fleshly, inherited talents or faculties or natural abilities, but are given to every one "ACCORDING TO his several ability." These scriptures can not be studied too thoroly. In their right understanding and employment lies the usefulness of the church of Christ. Disregarded, the goods of Christ are buried in the world, and he who might have shared Christ's joy is cast out. See the full accounts of the parables.
13. What will be the effect of these gifts upon the church in preserving from deception?
"That we henceforth be NO MORE CHILDREN, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive." Eph. 4: 14.
14. What is the design of the positive effect of these gifts?
"But speaking the truth in love, may GROW UP INTO HIM in all things, which is the HEAD, even CHRIST: from whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh INCREASE OF THE BODY unto the edifying of itself in love." Eph. 4: 15, 16.
15. What effort should each member put forth to improve his gift or gifts?
"Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou STIR UP THE GIFT OF GOD, which is in thee." 2 Tim. 1: 6.
"As EVERY MAN hath received THE GIFT [literally, "A gift," see A.R.V.], even so MINISTER the same ONE TO ANOTHER, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ; to whom be praise and dominion forever and ever. Amen." 1 Peter 4: 10, 11.
NOTE.—Not one of His servants has Christ left giftless, unfitted for service. If there is a single soul who feels he has no talent to work for his Lord, it is either because he does not believe in the abounding assurances of Inspiration, or he has not given himself to be Christ's "own servant."
16. Should we esteem differently those who have different gifts, or seek to measure usefulness thereby?
"For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, NOT TO THINK OF HIMSELF MORE HIGHLY THAN HE OUGHT TO THINK; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another." Rom. 12: 3-5.
17. Should we depreciate our own gifts?
"For I KNOW NOTHING BY MYSELF; yet am I not hereby justified: but He that judgeth me is the Lord. Therefore JUDGE NOTHING BEFORE THE TIME, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God." 1 Cor. 4: 4, 5.
18. Should we exalt man because of the gifts?
"And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us NOT TO THINK OF MEN ABOVE THAT WHICH IS WRITTEN, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another. For who maketh thee to differ from another? and WHAT HAST THOU THAT THOU DIDST NOT RECEIVE? now if thou didst receive it, why dost THOU GLORY, AS IF THOU hadst NOT received it?" 1 Cor. 4: 6, 7.
19. What should be the object of every one?
"Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; or ministry, let us wait on our ministering; or he that teacheth, on teaching; or he that exhorteth, on exhortation; he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that showeth mercy, with cheerfulness." Rom. 12: 6-8.
NOTE.—There is one gift mentioned in the above scripture which every soul may use, must use, and will possess; namely, the simple gift of "ministering," or service, in the stead of the Master in some one or more of a myriad ways for needy humanity.
20. Will possession of the gifts rightly used lead to fanaticism?
"Stir up the GIFT OF GOD, which is in thee. . . . For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of POWER, and of LOVE, and of a SOUND MIND." 2 Tim. 1: 6, 7.
21. To whom will all the glory be given?
"That NO FLESH should glory in His presence. But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: that, according as it is written, HE THAT GLORIETH, LET HIM GLORY IN THE LORD." 1 Cor. 1: 29-31.