MEMORY VERSE: ‘I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; that in every thing ye are enriched by Him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: so that ye come behind in no gift, waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.’ 1 Corinthians 1:4-8.
LESSON AIM: To reveal the greatest gift of the Spirit that we should covet, higher than teachers and apostles, higher than miracles and diversities of tongues. It is the excellence of charity.
‘After the Saviour’s ascension, the sense of the divine presence, full of love and light, was still with them. It was a personal presence. Jesus, the Saviour, who had walked and talked and prayed with them, who had spoken hope and comfort to their hearts, had, while the message of peace was upon His lips, been taken from them into heaven. As the chariot of angels received Him, His words had come to them, “Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end.” Matthew 28:20. He had ascended to heaven in the form of humanity. They knew that He was before the throne of God, their Friend and Saviour still; that His sympathies were unchanged; that He would forever be identified with suffering humanity.’ Acts of the Apostles, page 65.
1. Who gives the skill and abilities to enable the church to accomplish her divine mission? Luke 24:49.
NOTE: ‘Before He left His disciples, Christ “breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost.” John 20:22. Again He said, “Behold, I send the promise of My Father upon you.” Luke 24:49. But not until after the ascension was the gift received in its fullness. Not until through faith and prayer the disciples had surrendered themselves fully for His working was the outpouring of the Spirit received. Then in a special sense the goods of heaven were committed to the followers of Christ. “When He ascended up on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.” Ephesians 4:8.’ Christ’s Object Lessons, page 327.
2. Who is the administrator of the gifts that have been set in the church? 1 Corinthians 12:11.
NOTE: 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. All men do not receive the same gifts, but to every servant of the Master some gift of the Spirit is promised. The Lord has need of all kinds of skilful workmen. “He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.” Ephesians 4:11, 12.’ The Faith I Live By, page 292.