11. How many did Christ die for? 2 Corinthians 5:15, first part. To how many are we to take the good news of salvation? Revelation 14:6, last part. How many are to be touched by the conviction of the Holy Spirit? John 16:7-8, first part; Acts 1:8.
NOTE: ‘God’s field is the world. Jesus said to His disciples: “Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” “And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” Acts 1:8; Luke 24:47. Peter said to the believers: “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 2:39.' Testimonies for the Church, volume 8, page 56.
12. What is the divine condition for receiving the Holy Spirit? Acts 5:32.
NOTE: ‘The apostles boldly declared that they ought to obey God rather than man. Said Peter, “The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. Him hath God exalted with His right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. And we are His witnesses of these things, and so is also the Holy Spirit whom God hath given to them that obey Him.” Then were those murderers enraged.’ Spiritual Gifts, volume 1, page 85.
13. What will be the glorious fruitage on those branches whose graft into Christ holds firm? Ephesians 4:13; Ephesians 3:19-21.
NOTE: ‘As you receive the Spirit of Christ, the Spirit of unselfish love and labour for others, you will grow and bring forth fruit. The graces of the Spirit will ripen in your character. Your faith will increase, your convictions deepen, your love be made perfect. More and more you will reflect the likeness of Christ in all that is pure, noble, and lovely.’ Christ’s Object Lessons, page 67.
‘“When the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.” Christ is waiting with longing desire for the manifestation of Himself in His church. When the character of Christ shall be perfectly reproduced in His people, then He will come to claim them as His own. It is the privilege of every Christian not only to look for but to hasten the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, (2 Peter 3:12, margin). Were all who profess His name bearing fruit to His glory, how quickly the whole world would be sown with the seed of the gospel. Quickly the last great harvest would be ripened, and Christ would come to gather the precious grain.’ Christ’s Object Lessons, page 69.
LESSON INSIGHT: This lesson has revealed how we can be transformed by the renewing of our minds. This transformation can only take place by our choice, when we actively choose not to live as does the world at large. Instead, we choose to be like Jesus. This change comes when we are filled with the Holy Spirit and bear the fruit of the Spirit. But more than that, by inviting the Spirit of God to take on the direction of our lives, we are able to recognise what is pleasing to God in contrast to our own desires.
WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT: The Holy Spirit is personal to each of us. Christ told us that He is ‘with us’ as He woos us, but ‘shall be in us’, when we surrender to His strivings. John 14:17. How do we know that He is in us? In our hearts and minds? ‘“Every good tree bringeth forth good fruit.” We have a representation to make to the world of pure principles, holy ambitions, noble aspirations, that will distinguish us from all other people, making us a separate nation, a peculiar people.’ God’s Amazing Grace, page 249. We are to have our tastes, inclinations, ambitions, and passions all subdued, and brought into harmony with the mind and spirit of Christ. This is the very work that the Lord is willing to do for those who believe in him. Our life and deportment are to have a moulding power in the world. The spirit of Christ is to have a controlling influence over the life of His followers, so that they will speak and act like Jesus. Christ says, “The glory which Thou gavest Me I have given them.”’ Review & Herald, July 2, 1889.