1888 Message Study : An Exciting Way to Get Involved

https://www.1888msc.org/resources/ssi/2020-q3/an-exciting-way-to-get-involved

"AN EXCITING WAY TO GET INVOLVED"

 

 

"Then He said to His disciples, 'The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore, pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.' " Matthew 9:37, 38

 

This week's topic is close to my heart. Meeting together in small groups can be a real blessing to inspire, encourage, and grow believers in the faith of Jesus. In this week's Insights I'd like to share some of our personal experiences with small groups. 

 

We wouldn't have known about the 1888 message were it not for the invitation of a friend to attend a seminar on Romans and a subsequent invitation to attend a weekly Bible study in which the facilitator (an excellent teacher, by the way) introduced us to the major concepts of the 1888 message in a crowded apartment living room. With Bibles spread across our laps, we felt like the disciples on the road to Emmaus as we discovered Christ in the Word as we had never seen before. "Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?" Yes, theirs did. And so did ours. The thing that kept us coming back to that study week after week was a hunger for the righteousness of Christ. The fellowship was wonderful, too, but it was our shared appreciation of the 1888 message that forged deep bonds of friendship that now span more than three decades. We get the sense as we read Paul's letters that he, too, enjoyed fellowship with a core group of like-minded believers and evangelists who worked with unstoppable zeal to carry the gospel to distant lands. 

 

In our next stage of life, we relocated to a new community where many Adventists lived. Hoping to rekindle our previous experience, we started a Monday night study group at our home. We invited friends and fellow church members. They brought other friends. Attendance waxed and waned over the years. We were blessed to have Elder and Mrs. Donald Short present at many of these gatherings. His insights were succinct and profound. Eventually, we also planned activities for young children in the middle of the room, providing coloring pages and crayons so they could do something with their hands during the study. We did this for 11 years, seldom missing a night.  

 

The result? In retrospect, I am not aware of any real fruit for the kingdom of heaven that ensued from those meetings. Only eternity will reveal for sure. It just seemed like our efforts were unavailing. Our study was sabotaged on numerous occasions by emissaries of distraction. One older gentleman who attended faithfully seemed to have another agenda. Apparently representing an offshoot, he worked insidiously to draw people to the movement he was a part of. Others also came regularly to disrupt our study and push their own agenda. Several were adamant that God saved people one way in the Old Testament and another way in the New. Eternity will tell the rest of the story.

 

At any rate when we moved to another rural community with few Seventh-day Adventists, we decided to change our approach.  The first small group we started consisted of one couple from church and another couple who had not been active Adventists for more than 25 years. Our study format was simple. We decided to read through Patriarchs and Prophets together. After a couple of years of growing our friendship during our weekly meetings, our backslidden friends said, "You know, we really should go back to church." Their family had been through some very unfair and hurtful experiences at the behest of a church entity, and their trust in the organization had waned even though in their hearts they still believed the message. As we read Patriarchs and Prophets together, little did we know the work that the Holy Spirit was accomplishing in their hearts. They have been welcomed back into church fellowship with much joy, and they are now both among the most active members. 

 

There are many out there like these friends who have been hurt in the church or by the church. Often these grievances were never dealt with appropriately, and the wounds never healed. As we understand the gospel principle of the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12), we can express corporate repentance for the wrongs committed on behalf of the church, even if those who committed the wrongs never personally apologize. If the hand strikes someone and injures them, the mouth (another part of the body) can confess the wrong and ask forgiveness. That's how a body works. Together. There's no use in pointing fingers at the body because we are one. 

 

In this new location, we found that even though we were no longer having a large study group in our home, the devil found other ways to attack. This time, prayer meeting at church was the target, again through unconsecrated individuals who interrupted the meeting. The most egregious example was a man (not an Adventist) who came for several months who became threatening to several participants in the class. Eventually, for everyone's safety and to stop him from continuing his work, prayer meeting was shut down. That was really unfortunate.

 

What to do? For me, the answer was sharing in the home with those of other faiths (and often one or two church members as well). Even then, there have been challenges, but personal, in-home Bible studies have produced the most fruit (apparently) more than any other approach I have experienced. As we sit at the table or by the fireside, I have learned to watch the face of the Bible student light up after reading a Scripture and exclaim: "Oh! I never saw that before!" The thrill of seeing heaven's light dawn on a mind is an experience I crave! I am helpless to generate it, but I can certainly see evidence of it when the Holy Spirit is working. 

 

Now we must admit that our church and our world are facing challenges the likes of which we have never seen before. Masks, social distancing, a stealthy disease and (worst of all) fear have changed how we live our lives and relate to each other. Is now the time to stop Bible studies? Is now the time to curtail personal ministries? To discontinue our health and outreach programs at church? To stop speaking to our neighbors? No!

 

This pandemic has the attention of the world. People are desperate for answers. Not a few want to know what the Bible says about what is happening now. This is a heaven-sent opportunity (not that God caused the disease but that He can work all things together for good) if we can open our eyes to see it as such. Let us not let this situation stop us from sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ! The world needs to hear and see, like never before, of the self-giving agape love of Christ. We should be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. The antidote to the fear and injustice is the most precious of message of Jesus and His righteousness. Protests may effect outward reforms, but the gospel goes deeper and heals the wounds of the heart.

 

This situation has not caught God by surprise. He still has a work for us to do, and we will be doing this until every last soul on earth has heard the Good News:

 

"The plan of holding Bible readings [studies] was a heaven-born idea. There are many, both men and women, who can engage in this branch of missionary labor. Workers may thus be developed who will become mighty men of God. By this means the word of God has been given to thousands, and the workers are brought into personal contact with people of all nations and tongues." CH 192

 

And in our virtual age, personal ministry is still the best: "The more direct our labor for our fellow men, the greater good will be accomplished. Personal influence is a power. The minds of those with whom we are closely associated are impressed through unseen influences. One cannot speak to a multitude and move them as he could if he were brought into closer relationship to them." CH 192

 

"The best work you can do is to teach, to educate. Wherever you can find an opportunity to do so, sit down with some family, and let them ask questions. Then answer them patiently, humbly. Continue this work in connection with your more public efforts. Preach less, and educate more, by holding Bible readings, and by praying with families and little companies." CH 193

 

"Wherever you can gain access to the people by the fireside, improve your opportunity. Take your Bible, and open before them its great truths. Your success will not depend so much upon your knowledge and accomplishments, as upon your ability to find your way to the heart. By being social and coming close to the people, you may turn the current of their thoughts more readily than by the most able discourse. The presentation of Christ in the family, by the fireside, and in small gatherings in private houses is often more successful in winning souls to Jesus than are sermons delivered in the open air, to the moving throng, or even in halls or churches." CH 193

 

Heaven's methods are the best! "In visions of the night representations passed before me of a great reformatory movement among God's people. Many were praising God. The sick were healed, and other miracles were wrought . . . . Hundreds and thousands were seen visiting families, and opening before them the word of God. Hearts were convicted by the power of the Holy Spirit, and a spirit of genuine conversion was manifest. On every side doors were thrown open to the proclamation of the truth. The world seems to be lightened with the heavenly influence. Great blessings were received by the true and humble people of God." 9T 126

 

May it be us -- God's people in this generation -- that our dear messenger of the Lord saw in vision! 

 

In closing, I'd like to recommend a couple of resources that may be of value: The Glad Tidings and Waggoner on Romans. Written by E. J. Waggoner, both books contain many rich gems of gospel truth, present truth for us today. 

 

Amazon's description of Waggoner on Romans is as follows:

 

"Paul's Letter to the Romans proclaimed a gospel that turned his world upside down, set Europe ablaze in Luther's day, 'strangely warmed' Wesley's lukewarm heart in England's cynical eighteenth century, and ignited the soul of our (sic) young Ellet J. Waggoner just before this [20th] century began. Inspired by refreshingly unique insights into the Romans concept of Christ's active drawing of 'every man' and justification by faith, Waggoner proceeded to challenge the legalistic thinking of his revered elders in the ministry. His mature thinking crystallized into a year-long series of articles on Romans in the Signs of the Times from October, 1895, through September, 1896. Buried in the archives ever since, these studies now for the first time see publication in book form. Waggoner's The Glad Tidings, his verse-by-verse study of Galatians, has gladdened many hearts in recent years. This new companion book will meet with a hearty welcome from friendly thousands who have discovered what Ellen White discovered—something 'most precious' in his message."

 

If you are spiritually starved for food that will warm the heart and heal the soul, please check out these resources (Bookstore) and share with wisdom as God opens the way. And pray for the Lord of the harvest to send forth laborers to His field!

 

~Patti Guthrie

1888 Message Study : Developing a Winning Attitude

"DEVELOPING A WINNING ATTITUDE"

 

 

"Developing a Winning Attitude".  No, it's not the title of the latest "self-help" best-seller, but a lesson on "Developing a SOUL-Winning Attitude"!

 

If you aren't in the habit of reading the SS lesson, and haven't read it this week, then I want you, right now, to STOP, go read this SS lesson, and then come back to our SS Insight for this week.

 

This week's lesson is excellent.  Please, please don't miss reading it.

 

The lesson points out, "the last place the disciples expected to find hearts receptive to the gospel was in Samaria."  We might need to ask ourselves, where do we believe our "Samaria" to be?  What is the "last place" that we expect to find hearts "receptive to the gospel"?  Atheism?  Islam?  Young people?  LGBTQ+?  Wealthy, worldly, and well-educated?  Etc?

 

Do we believe that the only potentially promising field is disgruntled Catholics and open-minded Protestants?  And beyond that, we have little hope of finding "hearts receptive to the gospel", just as the disciples had little hope?

 

The lesson goes on to point out, "Jesus saw what the disciples did not see: receptive hearts. . . .  When our eyes are divinely anointed by the Holy Spirit, we see possibilities where others see only difficulties.  We see a rich harvest of souls for the kingdom of God where others see only barren fields."

 

Ellen White supports the lesson's idea: "never regard the most hardened sinner as beyond the reach of the grace of God . . .  (God) can bring the most selfish, sin-hardened soul to Christ."

 

Never forget Romans 2:4!  ". . . the goodness of God leads to repentance".  No matter what or where our "Samaria" is, when we present the "goodness of God", meaning the "good news" about God, ALL will be led to repentance.

 

Notice how E.J. Waggoner powerfully unpacks this verse:

 

"And we need not try to improve on the Scriptures, and say that the goodness of God tends to lead men to repentance. The Bible says that it does lead them to repentance, and we may be sure that it is so. Every man is being led toward repentance as surely as God is good. But not all repent. Why? Because they despise the riches of the goodness and forbearance and longsuffering of God, and break away from the merciful leading of the Lord. But whoever does not resist the Lord, will surely be brought to repentance and salvation." {July 19, 1894 EJW, PTUK 452.6}

 

Notice two things about how Jesus talked with the woman at the well that led to His success with her:

 

1. He didn't allow their new friendship to be immediately strained by a controversial theological point – in this situation, "where is the right location for worship" (today we might debate what's the right style of worship – not a debate for early relationships).  She was attempting to use a theological debate to divert the conversation away from her awakening conscience.  She thought, "if I can change the subject to something impersonal and theological, then we won't continue on this path of conversation about my need for 'living water'".  May we have this wisdom to build confidence and comfort and friendship, before engaging on more difficult topics.  As Ellen White said, "There is common ground, upon which we can meet people of all denominations; and in becoming acquainted with them, we should dwell mostly upon topics in which all feel an interest, and which will not lead directly and pointedly to the subjects of disagreement." PUR, June 22, 1905 par. 3}.

Common sense, yes?

 

2. Notice the woman's testimony to the others in her city.  ""Come, see a Man who told me all things that I ever did. Could this be the Christ?"  Very few of us would be eager to be around someone who knew, "all things that I ever did"!  Why?  Because very often we still feel a sense of guilt and shame for what we've done in the past, and we fear rejection and shame from others if they "knew all that we ever did".  Yet, this woman with a history of multiple failed and most likely multiple adulterous relationships, felt safe in Christ's presence to the point that she wanted to introduce Him to her neighbors!

 

Notice how Pastor Finley, the lessons principal contributor, articulates this point.  "you are accepted in Christ, who knows all about the things that others might not know anything about.  Yes, He knows all of that, and, yet, He accepts you anyway, not because of your own goodness but because of His."  May people have this same safety and acceptance with each of us.  This ought to be one of the fruits of belief in the 1888 message gospel truths.

 

Ellen White gets to the core of the evangelistic success of Jesus, and calls us to the same evangelistic approach:

 

"If we would humble ourselves before God, and be kind and courteous and tenderhearted and pitiful, there would be one hundred conversions to the truth where now there is only one."  (9T 189).

 

Complicated formula isn't it!  Humble, kind, courteous, tenderhearted, pitiful.  The key to evangelistic success.  Doable?  Yes!

 

Notice – one hundred baptisms where now there is one – by being humble, kind, courteous, tenderhearted, and pitiful!  If you had 5 baptisms last year in your local church, you would have had 500!  The Seventh-day Adventist church has nearly 25 million (25,000,000) adherents.  Is it conceivable that if the attitude and principles outlined above – humility, kindness, courtesy, tenderheartedness, pity – were adhered to, we would have 100x our current membership?  Instead of 25 million, there would be 2.5 BILLION (2,500,000,000) Seventh-day Adventists?  The gospel IS the power!

 

Is it possible that too often we've preached doctrine - merely, but haven't preached OR LIVED Christ?  Is there a difference between "the truth", and "the truth as it is in Jesus"?  Is it true that, "the strongest argument in favor of the gospel is a loving and lovable Christian"? {MH 470.1}.  Is it possible to be able to articulate the mechanics and specifics of the gospel, and yet be infantile in our experience and revelation of the gospel?

 

          It's time to grow up.

          It's time to "develop a (soul) winning attitude".

          What does that look like?  Humility, kindness, courtesy, tenderheartedness, pity.

          How can we experience it?  Romans2:4 – "the goodness of God leads to repentance" as sure as God is good!

 

~Bob Hunsaker

https://www.1888msc.org/resources/ssi/2020-q3/developing-a-winning-attitude

1888 Message Study : Sharing the Word

"SHARING THE WORD"

 

 

The purpose of this week's lesson is about sharing God's word. It presents various aspects and applications of the Word. Each day outlines these particulars by the use of "Symbols of God's Word" (Sunday); "The Creative Power of God's Word" (Monday); "The Benefits of Studying God's Word" (Tuesday); "Applying God's Word" (Wednesday) all of which leads to "Sharing the Word" with others (Thursday).

 

The memory verses for this week begins with the adverb "so" – "So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void …" Isaiah 55:11.

 

The word "so" compares God's word with what went before. Here the word means "in the same manner" as it finishes the thought from verse 10 – "As the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and do not return there, but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, [then verse 11 finishes the thought" – "So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it."

 

God speaks His word to prepare and to accomplish what He sends it to do as it lodges in the fertile soil of the mind. Words are thoughts made audible. God declares His thoughts to us by speaking. Amos wrote that God "declares to man what His thought is" (Amos 4:13). God's desire is that Christ, through the Word, will abide in your heart and mine.

 

Perhaps you have used or heard the expression "I am going to give 'so and so' a piece of my mind." How is this accomplished? Simply by speaking what is on the mind. Likewise, God gives us a piece of His mind through His written word and through the Word, Christ. "He was the Word of God, -- God's thought made audible" (The Desire of Ages, p. 19).

 

Christ, the Word of God, created the world. After He created earth and everything in and on it, He made Adam. From earth, He formed the human body and all the organs therein. Then Jesus knelt down and breathed into Adam's nostrils and mouth. Christ breathed into Adam and thus mankind with the kiss of life.

 

The term Adam includes both male and female. Both were made in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27). In the family records of the descendants of Adam, beginning in Genesis 5:1, Christ calls both Adam and Eve "Adam" 4:2 (KJV) – "Male and female created He them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created." Other translations call them "mankind." Well over 500 times "Adam" means mankind.

 

When the man "Adam" and his wife sinned, they lost much of God's image. However, the Lord immediately put into operation the plan of redemption which is simply the carrying out of His original plan of creation that man shall be in His image. In redemption, this is accomplished by the same creative power – God's word.

 

Jesus is Creator and Redeemer. He redeems by His word. His promise is that "if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature/creation" (2 Corinthians 5:17). Through the plan of Redemption, the same powerful creative word works to accomplish what God sends it to do. And also, the Sabbath plays a role here. The Sabbath is the memorial of God's power in creation. It is likewise the memorial of redemption. In both creation and in redemption, we have the same Person, Christ as Creator and Redeemer; the same power, His word; and the same Sabbath, as the memorial of redemption and of creation.

 

As Jesus is the light of the world He created, He also lightens every person "coming into the world" for the purpose of redemption. The written word is creative. And it is called both light and a lamp that guides us into and within the path of life (John 1:9; Psalm 119:105). Along with this symbol of light, there are other symbols used in Scripture as metaphors and similes giving word pictures of what God's word will do in our lives. His word is "like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces" (Jeremiah 23:29). The word, as a hammer, breaks up the hard heart and this same word creates a new heart of appreciation because of Christ and His righteousness abiding there by faith.

 

God's word is also likened to the piercings of a sword which inflicts a heavy or fatal blow upon nations and people (Proverbs 12:18; Revelation 19:15). This use of the word has to do with judgment.

 

His word is illustrated, in another context, as bread by which we are to live. This is how Jesus lived – by faith in every word of God. When tempted by the devil in the wilderness, Jesus answered "man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4).

 

Elder Waggoner used "grass" as an illustration of the weakness of man, but joined to the power of God and what He can and will do in our lives:

 

"Although two of the weakest and most helpless things in existence, yet what miracles of strength the grass and the acorn become when their weakness is united to the power of God's word. In like manner we behold man. Weak? Yes, as weak as the grass and as helpless. 'His days are as grass,' 'and all the glory of man as the flower of grass.' His life, - 'even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.' Helpless, utterly helpless in himself, unable to care for himself a single moment, unable to resist the smallest temptation, unable to do one good act.

 

"But look again. An unseen power has taken possession of him, a new life has animated him, and lo, he has 'subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouth of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness was made strong, waxed the valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens!' In that wherein he was weak, now he is strong, where once he would have trembled and fallen, now he stands unmoved like a house built upon a solid rock.

 

"What is this unseen power? What is this new life? It is the life and power of God's word united with man's weakness. It is the life and power of God Himself, for God goes with His word 'working in you that which is well-pleasing in His sight.' 'For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure."  E. J. Waggoner, English Present Truth, October 12, 1893.

 

Mrs. White also used biblical symbols to instruct us regarding respect and reverence for the pure word of God.

 

"We should reverence God's word. For the printed volume we should show respect, never putting it to common uses, or handling it carelessly. And never should Scripture be quoted in a jest, or paraphrased to point a witty saying. "Every word of God is pure;" "as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times." (Proverbs 30:5; Psalm 12:6.). Education, 244.

 

And E.J. Waggoner wrote about the power of God's word:

 

"He [Jesus] did not speak the word which set somebody else to work, but His word itself did the work. "By the word of the Lord were the heavens made, and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth." "He spake, and it was." Ps. 33:6, 9. This miracle of Jesus [in healing the impotent man] was therefore simply a manifestation of the creative power of God's word." E. J. Waggoner, "American Sentinel Articles," March 2, 1899. Emphasis original.

 

In conclusion. As we take the word of God into our lives, by faith, it changes us. And in whatever way God's word is symbolized whether, as fire, a hammer, seed, bread, or light – these have a single common point, which is the power to change our lives. Whatever symbol is used, it is used to reveal what the word will do in transforming our lives and the lives of those with whom we share as they accept it as authoritative in their lives.

 

As we study and allow the word to do what it promises, we will desire to share what it will do with others who accept it as their rule of life. And it is only with a changed life that enables us to effectively share with others what the word has accomplished in our own lives. This will have a powerful effect on those who hear and believe.

 

~ Jerry Finneman

https://www.1888msc.org/resources/ssi/2020-q3/sharing-the-word

1888 Message Study : Unlimited Possibilities

https://www.1888msc.org/resources/ssi/2020-q3/unlimited-possibilities

"UNLIMITED POSSIBILITIES"

 

 

"There is no limit to the usefulness of one who, putting aside self, makes room for the working of the Holy Spirit upon his heart, and lives a life wholly consecrated to God." –Ellen G. White, The Ministry of Healing, p. 159.

 

"God does not call the qualified. He qualifies those whom He has called."

 

Contemplating this statement from Sabbath afternoon's lesson, I thought of Gladys Aylward.  Gladys Aylward was born February 24, 1902, into a working-class family of North London.  In her early teens she was employed as a housemaid though her ambition was to become an actress.  However, one night, she just happened to attend a religious service.  It was a turning point for Gladys.  Believing God had a claim on her life she accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior.  Not long after her conversion she read an article about China that left a lasting impression.  The thought that millions of Chinese had never heard of Jesus greatly troubled her.   Gladys became convicted that God was calling her to go to China.  For a time, she attended the China Inland Mission but was told she lacked the necessary qualifications.  For one thing, she would never be able to master the Chinese language, so they said.  Eventually, hearing of a widowed missionary looking for an assistant, Gladys wrote to her and was told, yes, Jeannie Lawson wanted Gladys to come and join her, but Gladys would have to pay her own way.  By working extra jobs within a year, she scrimped together enough money to purchase a Trans-Siberian Railway ticket.  (It was about half the cost of taking a ship directly to China.)

 

It was the early 1930s and it was a perilous trip.  She was detained in Russia and barely, providentially escaped by seeking asylum on a Japanese boat.

 

Gladys finally stepped foot in China, but not long after her arrival Mrs. Lawson died.  Gladys was on her own.  But she wasn't on her own.  God wonderfully provided for her.  She learned to speak Chinese fluently.  She, with the help of Mr. Lu and a cook, operated an inn.  They provided an evening meal for the traveling muleteers and then entertained them with bible stories.  The local magistrate hired her as a "foot inspector," a job that not only supplemented the meager income from the inn, but also gave her opportunity to witness.  Accompanied by two of the magistrate's men Gladys traveled throughout the province decreeing and enforcing the government's mandate outlawing foot binding.  She also shared the love of Jesus and told bible stories in each town and village.

 

This diminutive, 4'10" woman adopted and rescued orphans, led them over mountains to safety during World War II, quelled a prison riot, instituted prison reforms, ministered to the needs of others, and won many diverse souls to Jesus.  Ai-weh-deh, her given Chinese name which means virtuous woman, left such an impression on the Confucian magistrate that he became a Christian.

 

Perhaps one of her more unique experiences was the week spent with 500 Tibetan priests.  Gladys had been traveling with a fellow Christian sharing the gospel.  The countryside had become increasingly desolate, but still they trudged on.  Finally, tired and hungry, not knowing where to turn, they stopped to pray and sing.  High on the hillside their singing was heard and they were brought to a lamasery where they were treated like long anticipated visiting dignitaries.  For a week they shared the Good News with the receptive and heart-hungry residents.  On the last night Aylward was called in for a private meeting with the head lama.  After discussing various topics, she got up her courage to ask, "Why did you let me, a foreign woman come into your lamasery?  Why did you allow me to speak to your priests?"  The following story unfolded.

 

A licorice herb grew in abundance on the side of the mountains where they lived and every year the lamas collected it to sell in the cities.  One year men who took the herbal harvest through a town happened upon a paper and brought it back to the lamasery.  Read by all the lamas, it became worn.  They then stuck it to the wall where it could be read over and over.  What was on the paper?  "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).  Somewhere there was a "God who loved." The head lama instructed the priests that from now on when they went to sell their harvest they were to search for "the God who loves."  For five years, they found out nothing.  Finally, the man who had been given the piece of paper found a Chinese evangelist who shared with him and his companion and gave them a copy of the gospels.

 

After relating all of this the head lama continued, "Eagerly they hurried back to the lamasery and we read the accounts of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.  We believed all that they contained, though there was much we could not understand.  But one verse seemed of special importance.  Christ had said, 'Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel,' so obviously one day someone would come to tell us more about this wonderful God.  All we had to do was to wait and, when God sent a messenger, to be ready to receive him.  For another three years we waited.  Then two lamas, out on the hillside gathering sticks, heard someone singing.  'Those are the messengers we are waiting for,' they said." –The Little Woman, by Gladys Aylward as told to Christine Hunter.

 

There is a longing in every heart that can only be satisfied by the "God who loves."  This week's lesson is on the topic of spiritual gifts and when we think of spiritual gifts 1st Corinthians 12 comes to mind.  Of course, this chapter is followed by 1st Corinthians 13.  Agape must be the motivation for desiring spiritual gifts and chapters 12 and 13 need to be viewed as a unit.  Both Ellen White and A. T. Jones address this connection.

 

"The 12th and 13th chapters of 1st Corinthians should be committed to memory, written in the mind and heart.  Through His servant Paul, the Lord has placed before us these subjects for our consideration, and those who have the privilege of being brought together in church capacity will be united, understandingly and intelligently.  The figure of the members which compose the body represents the church of God and the relation its members should sustain to one another." –Ellen G. White, Manuscript Releases p. 82, 1898.

 

"The Lord desires me to call the attention of His people to the thirteenth chapter of First Corinthians.  Read this chapter every day, and from it obtain comfort and strength.  Learn from it the value that God places on sanctified, heaven-born love, and let the lesson that it teaches come home to your hearts.  Learn that Christlike love is of heavenly birth, and that without it all other qualifications are worthless." –Ellen G. White, Review and Harold, July 21, 1904.

 

Yes, without God's love, implanted in our hearts, our qualifications are of no use to God in furthering His kingdom.  What amazing things God desires to do in and through us if we will only respond to His drawing and allow Him to lay our glory in the dust!  What is needed is an appreciation and heart understanding of agape.  When we understand the true connection of the body to the Head, when each member is fully submitted to the Head, disunity will cease to be seen in the body.  Intense longing to share God's love will compel us, and the Holy Spirit will empower and direct.

 

A. T. Jones wrote a series entitled, "Receive the Holy Spirit."  He wrote 26 articles and I would encourage a reading of each and every one of them.  These articles contain truth that is extremely timely.  You can find the whole series online.  I'll share from a few of his articles that are especially applicable to our Sabbath School lesson.  The added emphasis is that of the author, A. T. Jones.

 

Chapter 15 "The Spirit is Bestowed; the Gifts are Imparted" – "The gifts of the Spirit are, wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, tongues, interpretation of tongues, teaching, exhortation, helping, governing, evangelists, pastors,—"distributing to each one individually as He wills" (1 Corinthians 12:11).

 

The purpose in the impartation of these gifts is thus declared: "He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the EQUIPPING (PERFECTING) OF THE SAINTS" (Ephesians 4:11, 12).

 

When the object of the gift of the Holy Spirit is the perfecting [equipping] of the receivers of the gift, and when the means of accomplishing this object is the gifts of the Holy Spirit, it is perfectly plain that both the gift and the gifts of the Holy Spirit are not an end, but only means to an end; and that end, the perfecting [equipping] of the believers.

 

Then what must the one great thought of all who have received, the gift of the Holy Spirit, and the impartation of the gifts of the Holy Spirit received? — Only perfection, perfection, PERFECTION, — nothing but perfection in Christ Jesus.

 

Therefore in this "time of the latter rain," in this day of the giving of the Holy Spirit, in this time of the receiving of the Holy Spirit, every one who will set his whole heart, yield his whole thought, to being brought to perfection in Christ Jesus, and will surrender himself to the working of the Holy Spirit, that the Spirit may accomplish God's purpose upon him, can freely receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit.  "Ask, and it will be given to you."  "Receive the Holy Spirit."  "Be filled with the Spirit." –A. T. Jones, The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, October 11, 1898.

 

Chapter 16 "The Greatest Gift: Keeping the Commandments" – "We are commanded to "desire spiritual gifts" (1 Corinthians 14:1), and to "earnestly desire the best gifts" (1 Corinthians 12:31).

 

These spiritual gifts are the gifts of the Holy Spirit, which are imparted by the Spirit to those who have received the Holy Spirit.

 

The sole object of these gifts is the perfecting of the saints, — the bringing to perfection the believers in Jesus.

 

Christian perfection is manifested in "love, which is the bond of perfection" (Colossians 3:14). This is the love [agape] of God; "for this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments" (1 John 5:3).

 

So entirely is it true that love is the sole object of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, that though I had the gift of tongues in such measure that I could "speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal" (1 Corinthians 13:1). And this is the love of God, "for this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments."

 

So entirely is it true that love is the sole object of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, that "though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing"  (v. 2). And this is the love of God; "for this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments."

 

So entirely is it true that the sole object of the gifts of the Spirit is love, that though I had these gifts in such measure that I were to "bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing" (v. 3). And this is the love of God; "for this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments."

 

Thus is it entirely true, and the evidence is overwhelming, that the keeping of the commandments of God is the sole object of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. And thus it is demonstrated that the keeping of the commandments of God is the greatest gift that can possibly be bestowed upon men.

 

Do you desire to keep the commandments of God?  If you do, then earnestly "desire spiritual gifts;" for without these you never can become a true keeper of the commandments of God.

 

Do you desire really to keep the commandments of God?  If you do, then "earnestly desire the best gifts;" for only by the gifts of the Spirit can you ever be a keeper of the commandments.

 

"Ask, and it will be given to you."  "Receive the Holy Spirit."  "Be filled with the Spirit." "Earnestly desire the best gifts." –A. T. Jones, The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, October 25, 1898.

 

For a practical application and appreciation of the gifts of the Holy Spirit we go to the book of Acts.  A. T. Jones notes that the book of Acts begins and ends with the Holy Spirit, and that the Holy Spirit is recognized and received throughout the book.  "He is ever and everywhere recognized as being present as witness, counselor, and guide." ……. The message of God today is, "Receive the Holy Spirit."  But the Holy Spirit is to be received only for service; only for guidance into a deeper, more thorough, and more stable experience; only unto sanctification: never for self-gratification.  And in this time the book of Acts should be carefully, diligently, and reverently studied, that we may know the way of the Spirit in His wonderful working." –A. T. Jones, The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, September 13, 1898.

 

The head lama told Gladys, "Christ had said, 'Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel,' so obviously one day someone would come to tell us more, about this wonderful God.  All we had to do was to wait and, when God sent a messenger, to be ready to receive him." – The Little Woman, by Gladys Aylward as told to Christine Hunter.

 

God's character of love, revealed in His holy law and the gospel, has been maligned and misunderstood.  We have been entrusted with a most precious message.  Many are longing and waiting to hear this message.  The world desperately needs this message!  We are also told that the power of God, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, awaits our demand and reception.

 

"This promised blessing, claimed by faith, brings all other blessings in its train.  It is given according to the riches of the grace of Christ, and He is ready to supply every soul according to the capacity to receive." –Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 672.

 

May we, by God's grace, humble our hearts and fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.  We want to be filled with the Holy Spirit, equipped and empowered for service.  We want to see God's character of love exalted, to proclaim by our lives and testimony, the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.

 

~ Martha Ruggles