1Q 2017 Adult Bible Study Guide 6

Contents
1 The Spirit and the Word—December 31–January 6 5
2 The Holy Spirit: Working Behind the Scenes—January 7–13 18

3 The Divinity of the Holy Spirit—January 14–20 31
4 The Personality of the Holy Spirit—January 21–27 44
5 The Baptism and Filling of the Holy Spirit—January 28–February 3 57
6 The Holy Spirit and Living a Holy Life—February 4–10 72
7 The Holy Spirit and the Fruit of the Spirit—February 11–17 85
8 The Holy Spirit and the Gifts of the Spirit—February 18–24 98
9 The Holy Spirit and the Church—February 25–March 3 111
10 The Holy Spirit, the Word, and Prayer—March 4–10 124
11 Grieving and Resisting the Spirit—March 11–17 137
12 The Work of the Holy Spirit—March 18–24 150
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The teachers edition components were written by the following:

The Lesson in Brief, Lessons 1–12, and The Learning Cycles, 1–12: Mark Finley, assistant to
the president of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, Silver Spring, Md., U.S.A.
© 2017 General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists®. All rights reserved. No part of the Adult Sabbath
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1
The Holy Spirit and Spirituality
M any of us have heard the words: “And I baptize you in the
name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”
And, if baptized, we surely heard them just before a minister
immersed us in the water (see Matt. 28:19).
Baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Yes, the Spirit is
mentioned right there with the Father and the Son.
And no wonder. The Seventh-day Adventist Church’s Fundamental Belief no. 5,
“God the Holy Spirit,” reads, “God the eternal Spirit was active with the Father and
the Son in Creation, incarnation, and redemption. He is as much a person as are the
Father and the Son. He inspired the writers of Scripture. He filled Christ’s life with
power. He draws and convicts human beings; and those who respond He renews and
transforms into the image of God. Sent by the Father and the Son to be always with
His children, He extends spiritual gifts to the church, empowers it to bear witness to
Christ, and in harmony with the Scriptures leads it into all truth.”
Nevertheless, as we read the Bible, particularly the Old Testament, we see the direct
activity and work of God the Father. His actions are everywhere. In the New Testament,
especially the Gospels, we read again and again about the work and activity of Jesus, the
Son. Jesus—His life, death, and ministry in heaven—dominates the New Testament.
In contrast to the activity of both the Father and the Son, the work of the Holy
Spirit is not as openly depicted in either Testament.
2
But there is a reason for this contrast: the Holy Spirit does not seek to be the cen-
ter of attention. He plays more of a behind-the-scenes role. The Father and the Son
are more directly revealed in the Word. And that’s because the Holy Spirit is there
to point us not to Himself but to Jesus and what Jesus has done for us.
As we study the work of the Holy Spirit, we will see how central He is to our
Christian experience. The Holy Spirit, God
Himself, knows God as no person can; thus, He As we study the work of
reveals God to us in a trustworthy and reliable the Holy Spirit, we will
manner. The Holy Spirit first inspired the Bible
writers, and the Holy Spirit today guides us in
see how central He is to
our study of what He inspired these writers to our Christian experience.
communicate. The Holy Spirit gives assurance The Holy Spirit, God
of our salvation through Jesus Christ (Rom. Himself, knows God as
8:16), and He gives evidence of God’s work in
no person can; thus, He
us (1 John 3:24). The Holy Spirit also cleanses
us from sin and sanctifies us. “You were washed, reveals God to us in a
you were sanctified, you were justified in the trustworthy and reliable
name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit manner.
of our God” (1 Cor. 6:11, RSV). The Spirit
produces in us lifelong growth in holiness, bringing forth the fruit of the Spirit
within us—“love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness,
self-control” (Gal. 5:22, 23, NASB).
“The Spirit was to be given as a regenerating agent, and without this the sacrifice
of Christ would have been of no avail. The power of evil had been strengthening for
centuries, and the submission of men to this satanic captivity was amazing. Sin could
be resisted and overcome only through the mighty agency of the Third Person of the
Godhead, who would come with no modified energy, but in the fullness of divine
power. It is the Spirit that makes effectual what has been wrought out by the world’s
Redeemer.”—Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 671, italics supplied.
Because of His crucial role in the lives of believers, this quarter’s study will help
us better understand the great gift we have in the Holy Spirit.
Frank M. Hasel, PhD, was dean of the Department of Theology at Bogenhofen Semi-
nary in Austria, Europe, and also the director of the Ellen G. White Study Center when he
wrote this Adult Sabbath School Bible Study Guide. In 2009, his wife died of cancer.
Since then he learns to trust God’s goodness in new ways every day and experiences the
comfort, peace, and transforming power of the Holy Spirit in his life.
3
How to Use
This Teachers Edition
Get Motivated to Explore, Apply, and Create
We hope that this format of the teachers edition will encourage adult Sabbath School
class members to do just that—explore, apply, and create. Each weekly teachers lesson takes
your class through the following learning process, based on the Natural Learning Cycle:
1. Why is this lesson important to me? (Motivate);
2. What do I need to know from God’s Word? (Explore);
3. How can I practice what I’ve learned from God’s Word? (Apply); and
4. What can I do with what I’ve learned from God’s Word? (Create).
And for teachers who haven’t had time to prepare during the week for class, there is a
one-page outline of easy-to-digest material in “The Lesson in Brief ” section.
Here’s a closer look at the four steps of the Natural Learning Cycle and suggestions for
how you, the teacher, can approach each one:
Step 1—Motivate: Link the learners’ experiences to the central concept of the
lesson to show why the lesson is relevant to their lives. Help them answer the question,
Why is this week’s lesson important to me?
Step 2—Explore: Present learners with the biblical information they need to
understand the central concept of the lesson. (Such information could include facts
about the people; the setting; cultural, historical, and/or geographical details; the plot
or what’s happening; and conflicts or tension of the texts you are studying.) Help learn-
ers answer the question, What do I need to know from God’s Word?
Step 3—Apply: Provide learners with opportunities to practice the information
given in Step 2. This is a crucial step; information alone is not enough to help a person
grow in Christ. Assist the learners in answering the question, How can I apply to my
life what I’ve learned?
Step 4—Create: Finally, encourage learners to be “doers of the word, and not
hearers only” (James 1:22). Invite them to make a life response to the lesson. This step
provides individuals and groups with opportunities for creative self-expression and
exploration. All such activities should help learners answer the question, With God’s
help, what can I do with what I’ve learned from this week’s lesson?
When teachers use material from each of these four steps, they will appeal to most
every student in their class: those who enjoy talking about what’s happening in their lives,
those who want more information about the texts being studied, those who want to know
how it all fits in with real life, and those who want to get out and apply what they’ve
learned.
4
L esson 1 *December 31–January 6
(page 6 of Standard Edition)
The Spirit and the Word
Sabbath Afternoon
Read for This Week’s Study: 2 Pet. 1:19–21, 1 Cor. 2:9–13,
Ps. 119:160, John 17:17.
Memory Text: “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and

is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction
in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly
equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16, 17, NKJV).
T
he Bible says the following about itself: “All Scripture is given
by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof,
for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man
of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work”
(2 Tim. 3:16, 17, NKJV). Scripture fulfills this role because it is the
Word of God, revealed to humanity through the work of the Holy Spirit.
In the Bible, the Holy Spirit reveals God’s will to us, showing us how
to live a life that is pleasing to Him.
But the Holy Spirit was operational not only in the distant past but
also in the origin of the Bible. He is involved with the Word of God in
many other important ways even today. And perhaps the most impor-
tant is our reading the Word and desiring to understand it properly. This
is when we need the Holy Spirit. This same divine Spirit awakens in
us the desire to embrace the Word of God and to apply its teaching to
our lives. Thus, the Spirit works with and through the Written Word to
transform us into new creatures in Christ.
This week we will trace the work of the Holy Spirit as it relates to
the Scriptures.
* Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, January 7.
5
S unday January 1
The Holy Spirit and Revelation

How does God ensure that His will is faithfully transmitted to fallen
human beings? He does this in two major related activities of the Holy
Spirit: revelation and inspiration.
In the process of revelation, human beings are dependent upon
the help of Someone outside of ourselves to reveal things to us that
we, as created (and fallen) beings, cannot know of ourselves. That
is, the Holy Spirit teaches us truths that have to be told to us (see,
for example, Dan. 2:19–23); otherwise, we could never know them
through natural means.
Revelation is a process in which God makes Himself and His divine
will known to humans. The basic idea associated with the word reve
lation is an unveiling, or uncovering, of something that otherwise is
hidden. We need such a revelation because, as finite and fallen beings
separated from God because of sin, we are greatly limited in what we
can learn on our own. We are dependent upon God to know His will.
Hence, we are dependent on God’s revelation because we are not God
and have only a very limited natural knowledge of Him.
Read 2 Peter 1:19–21. What does this say about the origin of the bibli-
cal prophetic message? What does the divine origin of the biblical
message tell us about the authority of the Bible?

According to the apostle Peter, the prophetic message of the Old
Testament was not of human origin. The prophets were moved by the
Holy Spirit in such a way that the content of their message came from
God. These men did not create the message themselves. They were
merely the vessels of the message, not the originators. Peter was very
intentional in stressing the Spirit-inspired source of the prophecies:
though written by men, “prophecy never came by the will of man” (2 Pet.
1:21, NKJV). And it is this divine origin that gives the Bible its ultimate
authority over our lives.
God used human beings to proclaim His Word to the world.

How can we be used by the Holy Spirit to do something similar
today—not in writing Scripture but in proclaiming what has
already been written?

6
M onday January 2
The Holy Spirit and Inspiration

Inspiration is the term used to describe God’s influence through the
work of the Holy Spirit in transmitting His message through human
instruments. The work of the Holy Spirit in the process of inspiration is
the reason we find a fundamental unity in all of Scripture in regard to
truth. As the Spirit of Truth (John 14:17, 15:26, 16:13), the Holy Spirit
will lead us into all truth.
Read 2 Peter 1:21, Deuteronomy 18:18, Micah 3:8, and 1 Corinthians

2:9–13. What do these texts tell us about the biblical writers and
about God’s involvement in the origin of the Bible?

Being “carried along by the Holy Spirit” (2 Pet. 1:21, NIV) is a
strong affirmation of the work of the Holy Spirit in inspiration. In
1 Corinthians 2:9–13, the apostle Paul credits revelation and inspira-
tion to the Holy Spirit. To us, he says, God revealed the hidden things
that no eye has seen, which he mentions in verse 9. God revealed them
through the Spirit (1 Cor. 2:10). The apostles have received this “Spirit
who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by
God” (1 Cor. 2:12, NASB). Then in verse 13 he moves to the work of
inspiration, where he speaks of things “not in words taught by human
wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts
with spiritual words” (NASB). Paul had no doubt about the source and
the authority of what he was proclaiming.
While many parts of the Bible are a result of God’s direct supernatu-
ral revelation, not everything in the Bible was revealed in that manner.
Sometimes God used biblical writers in their careful personal investiga-
tion of things or in their use of other existing documents (Josh. 10:13,
Luke 1:1–3) to reveal and communicate His message. Thus, all parts
of the Bible are revealed and inspired (2 Tim. 3:16). This is the reason
Paul states that “whatever” was written, was written for our instruction,
so that through “the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have
hope” (Rom. 15:4, NASB). The God who speaks and who created human
language enables chosen people to communicate in human words the
inspired thoughts in a trustworthy and reliable manner.
“God has been pleased to communicate His truth to the world by
human agencies, and He Himself, by His Holy Spirit, qualified men
and enabled them to do His work. He guided the mind in the selec-
tion of what to speak and what to write. The treasure was entrusted to
earthen vessels, yet it is, nonetheless, from Heaven.”—Ellen G. White,
Selected Messages, book 1, p. 26.
7
T uesday January 3
The Holy Spirit and the Truthfulness

of Scripture
While revelation is the supernatural act by which God reveals truth
to chosen human beings, inspiration is the activity of the Holy Spirit
that safeguards the truthfulness of what the human authors wrote, so
that their words have the full approval of God. God hates false witness
(Exod. 20:16) and cannot lie (Heb. 6:18). He is called a God of truth
(Ps. 31:5, Isa. 65:16). In a similar manner, the Holy Spirit is called “the
Spirit of truth” (John 14:17).
Read Psalm 119:160. What does this teach about anything God reveals
to us?
Read John 17:17. What does Jesus say to us here about God’s Word?

The Word of God is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance. It is
not our task to sit in judgment over Scripture. Scripture, rather, has
the right and the authority to judge us. “For the word of God is alive
and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to
dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and
attitudes of the heart” (Heb. 4:12, NIV).
Though, of course, the Bible was written by those living in specific
times and places and cultures (how could it have been otherwise?), we
should not use that fact to water down or dismiss the message of the
Bible to us. Once that door is opened, the Bible becomes subject to
humans and to their determination of what is truth. The result is that
many people, while claiming to believe the Bible, reject such things as
a six-day creation, a worldwide flood, the virgin birth, the bodily resur-
rection of Jesus, and the literal Second Coming. These are just a few
of many biblical truths that fallible people, sitting in judgment on the
Scriptures, have thrown out. That’s not a path any of us should ever take.
Why is it so crucial to submit our own judgment to the Word of

God rather than vice versa?

8
W ednesday January 4
The Holy Spirit as Teacher

The Holy Spirit is instrumental, not only in giving us the Written Word
of God but also in helping us understand it properly. Human beings are
darkened in their understanding of truth; they are, by nature, alienated
from God (Eph. 4:18). That’s why the same Spirit who revealed and
inspired the Word of God is the One who enables us to understand it. The
problem is not that the Bible is an obscure book. The problem is our sin-
tainted attitude toward God, who reveals Himself in the Bible.
The Holy Spirit is a Teacher who desires to lead us into a deeper
understanding of Scripture and to a joyful appreciation of the Bible.
He brings the truth of God’s Word to our attention and gives us fresh
insights into those truths so that our lives can be characterized by faith-
fulness and a loving obedience to God’s will. This can happen, though,
only if we approach the Bible with a humble and teachable heart.
Read 1 Corinthians 2:13, 14. What does the apostle Paul write about
our need to interpret spiritual things spiritually?

In our understanding of the Bible, we are dependent upon the Holy
Spirit. Without the Holy Spirit, the spiritual significance of the biblical
words is not discerned, only its linguistic meaning. Furthermore, as
sinful human beings we often are opposed to God’s truth, not because
we do not understand it but because we would prefer not to follow it.
Without the Holy Spirit there is no affection for God’s message. There
is no hope, no trust, and no love in response. What the Spirit brings to
life is in harmony with the truth already proclaimed in the Bible.
“Many contradictory opinions in regard to what the Bible teaches

do not arise from any obscurity in the book itself, but from blind-
ness and prejudice on the part of interpreters. Men ignore the
plain statements of the Bible to follow their own perverted reason.”
—Ellen G. White, The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, January 27,
1885. How has your pride been a stumbling stone that has hindered
you from implementing the truth of Scripture in your life? In what
areas do your own desires keep you from accepting God’s truth in
your life? How can you learn to surrender everything to God?
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T hursday January 5
The Holy Spirit and the Word

The Holy Spirit, who has revealed and inspired the content of the
Bible to human beings, will never lead us contrary to God’s Word in
any way.
Read John 5:39, 46, 47 and John 7:38. What authority does Jesus
refer to in these texts? How does the Bible confirm that Jesus is
the Messiah?

Some people claim to have received special “revelations” and instruc-
tions from the Holy Spirit that go against the clear message of the Bible.
For them the Holy Spirit has attained a higher authority than God’s Word.
Whenever the inspired and Written Word of God is nullified and its clear
message is evaded, we walk on dangerous ground and do not follow the
leading of God’s Spirit. The Bible is our only spiritual safeguard. It alone
is a reliable norm for all matters of faith and practice.
“Through the Scriptures the Holy Spirit speaks to the mind, and
impresses truth upon the heart. Thus He exposes error, and expels it
from the soul. It is by the Spirit of truth, working through the word of
God, that Christ subdues His chosen people to Himself.”—Ellen G.
White, The Desire of Ages, p. 671.
Ellen G. White has made it abundantly clear that “the Spirit was
not given—nor can it ever be bestowed—to supersede the Bible; for
the Scriptures explicitly state that the word of God is the standard by
which all teaching and experience must be tested.”—Ellen G. White,
The Great Controversy, p. 9.
The Holy Spirit is never given to replace the Word of God. He, rather,
works in harmony with and through the Bible to draw us to Christ, thus
making the Bible the only norm for authentic biblical spirituality. We
can be sure that when someone comes making claims that are in con-
tradiction to the Word of God, that person is not speaking the truth. We
can’t judge hearts or motives. We can, though, judge theology, and the
only standard we have to judge it with is the Word of God.
What are some of the teachings that people are trying to promote
in the church that are clearly contrary to the Word of God? What
should our response be to (1) the people promoting these errors;
(2) the errors themselves?
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F riday January 6
Further Thought: Read Ellen G. White, “The Scriptures a Safeguard,”

pp. 593–602, in The Great Controversy. Read also Ellen G. White, “Let Not
Your Heart Be Troubled,” pp. 662–680, in The Desire of Ages.
Think about all the truth that we know only because it has been
revealed to us in the Bible. Think, for instance, about Creation. What
a contrast between what the Word of God teaches about how we were
created and how humanity teaches we were created—that is, through
the process of what is now called “the neo-Darwinian synthesis.” Look
at how wrong humans have it! Think, too, about the second coming of
Jesus and the resurrection of the dead at the end of the age. These are
truths that we could never learn on our own. They have to be revealed
to us, and they are, in the Word of God, which was inspired by the Holy
Spirit. In fact, the most important truth of all, that Jesus Christ died for
our sins and that we are saved through faith in Him and His works for
us, is a truth that we never could have figured out on our own. We know
it only because it has been revealed to us. Think about other truths that
we know only because they have been told to us through the Word of
God. Such crucial truths are found only in the Bible; what should that
fact tell us about how central the Word of God needs to be in our lives?
Discussion Questions:
 Why is the Bible a safer guide in spiritual questions than are
subjective impressions? What are the consequences when we do not
accept the Bible as the standard by which we test all teachings and
even our spiritual experiences?
 We often hear the word truth used in a variety of contexts. In

class, talk about the concept of truth, not just what is true or what
is not true but about what it means when we say that something is
“true.” What does it mean for something to be “true”?
 How should your church react if someone claims to have “new

light”?
 Flesh out the radical difference between how the Bible teaches
we were created and what human wisdom teaches. What human
wisdom teaches, that is, the latest understanding of evolutionary
theory, is completely contrary to the Bible message. What should
that tell us about why we must trust the Bible above everything
else?
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i n s i d e
Story
A Gift in the Forest: Part 1
Situated in Europe, Poland emerged as a nation in the tenth century a.d.
During the next millennium, two of Poland’s neighbors, the kingdom of
Prussia (modern-day Germany) and the Russian Empire, became power-
ful. In 1795, these two countries divided Poland between themselves and
removed it from the world map. Following World War I, Poland regained
its independence.
Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union both invaded Poland during World
War II. Some six million Poles—half of whom were Jewish—died during
the war. At the close of the war, a Communist government was installed in
Poland behind the Soviet iron curtain. In 1989, free elections ushered in a
new government, which began the fall of Communism in Europe.
More than half of Poland is agricultural or woodlands. It’s a haven for
many animals, including the wisent (European bison), brown bear, gray
wolf, and moose. Some 25 percent of European migratory birds breed
each summer in Poland’s wetlands.
The first king of Poland, Mieszko I, became a Christian in a.d. 966 and
formed Poland as a sovereign Christian state. The Roman Catholic Church
is still a powerful force in Poland.
During World War II, Germany and the Soviet Union outlawed the
Seventh-day Adventist Church. All church properties were taken away,
and some members were sent to Siberia. After the war, the Adventist
Church was reestablished and started to grow again.
In 1990, Ryszard Jankowski [ree-SHARD Yahn-kow-skee], the Polish
Union youth leader at the time, had a dream. He wanted a youth camp
where young people could be trained for service. The church had no land,
no money, and no idea where they would get either. But Ryszard sensed
that God was in the dream, so he began searching.
“We wanted a place where children and youth could spend time in
nature and learn about God, a place where they could see the Creator and
learn to love Him,” Ryszard said. They wanted the camp to have electricity
and water, be on a lake, and have some basic buildings.
One day Ryszard found a place called Zatonie [zah-TOH-nee], a
government-owned camp on a lake in western Poland. The buildings on
the campground were in poor condition, but they could be made useful.
“I believed that God wanted us to have Zatonie,” Ryszard said. The
campsite was worth $200,000, but the union didn’t have money to buy
the land, the buildings, or furniture. “But as our committee discussed the
possibilities, the telephone rang. Someone in Denmark was offering us
free furniture—they would even deliver it!” Ryszard knew that God would
provide the rest if this was His will.
To be continued in next week’s Inside Story.
Produced by the General Conference Office of Adventist Mission.

12 Web site: www.AdventistMission.org
teachers comments
The Lesson in Brief

Key Text: 2 Peter 1:19–21
The Student Will:

Know: Understand that the Bible is the revealed will of God, inspired by the
Holy Spirit. It is a safeguard to his or her faith and a standard by which all
teaching and experience must be tested.
Feel: Experience an attitude of complete submission to the Holy Spirit’s
guidance through the Word of God rather than one of independent judg-
ment and human pride.
Do: Choose to allow the Holy Spirit to shape his or her thinking through
the Word of God and through the Spirit’s prompting and power, leading the
student to surrender any attitudes and actions not in harmony with God’s
Inspired Word.
Learning Outline:
I. Know: Understanding the Holy Spirit’s Role in Revelation and Inspiration
A What is the difference between the terms revelation and inspiration?
B Because the Holy Spirit works through the human agents who wrote
it, how can we be certain that the Bible is God’s reliable revelation to us?
C How does inspiration shape what God reveals through the Bible writers?
II. Feel: Approaching the Bible With an Attitude of Humility

A How does the attitude with which we approach the Bible determine
the Holy Spirit’s ability to change us through the texts of Scripture?
B Why is it so easy to substitute human opinions about the Bible for what
the Bible actually says?
III. Do: Experiencing the Power of the Word

A Why is it so important to allow the Holy Spirit to shape our under-
standing of the Word of God?
B What are the steps God is leading you to take in your own spiritual life
so that you may appreciate the Bible more and experience its life-changing
power in a fuller way?
Summary: When we decide to respond to the leading of the Holy Spirit and
humbly accept the divine instruction in the Bible, our lives are changed by
God’s grace, and our minds are protected against the deceptions of the devil.
13
teachers comments
Learning Cycle
STEP 1—Motivate
Spotlight on Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16, 17
Key Concept for Spiritual Growth: The Bible is more than merely a
collection of inspirational writings. It is the authoritative, life-changing
Word of God. When prayerfully read with a humble, teachable attitude
under the influence of the Holy Spirit, it transforms our lives.
Just for Teachers: This week’s lesson opens our quarter’s study on
the ministry of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit has spoken through the
Word. God has revealed Himself in Scripture. The truths of the Bible tell
the story of who God is and how He works in human lives. Without the
Spirit’s working through the Word, we would be left to our own human,
misguided understanding of truth.
Emphasize the fact that without the guidance of the Holy Spirit, know-
ing God’s will and understanding His truth would be a matter of guess-
work that would leave us uncertain and confused. God’s Word provides
clarity and certainty regarding knowing and understanding His will.
Opening Discussion: Let’s suppose that Sister Jones attends your Sabbath
School class for the very first time. About halfway through the discussion,
she raises her hand and says, “The Holy Spirit has impressed me that we
are living at the time of the end.”
You respond, “Why, yes, sister, we certainly believe that.”
She continues, “No, I mean we are really close. I have been impressed
that the economy is about to crash, that God’s people should not have any
debt at all, and that we should all move into the country to grow our own
crops immediately. The end may be within two or three years. Now, I am
not setting a date for the coming of Jesus, because I know Scripture says,
‘No one knows the day or hour of His coming,’ but let me tell you, it has
been revealed to me that it is sooner than any one of us thinks.”
Questions for Discussion:

 In light of today’s lesson, how would you respond to Sister Jones? What
insights might you share that would be helpful to her and to the class?
 How does this week’s lesson give you guidance for your answer? What
principles in the Word of God would be helpful to Sister Jones?
14
teachers comments

Why is the Word of God a safeguard against speculative ideas?
STEP 2—Explore
Just for Teachers: There is a difference between revelation and

inspiration. Revelation has to do with the unfolding or revealing of
God’s unchangeable truth. God’s truth is not dependent on human
thought or activity in any way. Truth is truth, whether human beings
accept and believe it or not. God’s truth is both eternal and univer-
sal. It is eternal in the sense that it applies to every generation at all
times. It is universal in the sense that it applies to all people in all
cultures. God’s truth, like the law of gravity, applies at all times and
in all places. Culture does not shape or alter truth. Truth shapes and
alters culture.
Inspiration, on the other hand, is God’s working by His Holy Spirit
through human agents to communicate His truth. The same God who
revealed truth guided the writers of the Bible as they wrote it down.
God did not dictate each word of the Bible to the biblical writers.
He directed their thoughts, inspired their minds, and guided their
pens. They wrote in their own words with the vocabularies available
to them under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to communicate the
infallible Word of God.
Bible Commentary
I. The Holy Spirit: The Teacher of All Truth (Review John 16:13 with the class.)
One of the functions of the Holy Spirit is to guide us into truth. Notice that
the Holy Spirit does not coerce us to follow truth. He does not force truth
upon us. He does not compel us to obey. He “ ‘guide[s]’ ” us into “ ‘all
truth’ ” (NKJV). He gently leads us to understand that God’s way, revealed
in His Word, is the best. As the Holy Spirit guides us, we discover that Jesus’
words “ ‘I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more
abundantly’ ” are true in our own lives (John 10:10, NKJV).
What is this truth that the Holy Spirit guides us into? It is the truth
about God. Each doctrine of the Bible reveals something of the beauty
of the truth about the God who loves us and longs for us to be saved in
His kingdom. In light of the great controversy between good and evil, the
purpose of the Inspired Word is to reveal the truth about God’s character
of unselfish love in contrast to Satan’s character of self-centered pride.
15
teachers comments
There are at least two more aspects of the Spirit’s guiding us into all truth.
First, the Holy Spirit leads us to understand the doctrinal truths of the Bible in
order to protect us from the deceptions of the evil one, deceptions that distort
God’s character. Jesus declares, “ ‘Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is
truth’ ” (John 17:17, NKJV). He also declares, “ ‘You will know the truth,
and the truth will set you free’ ” (John 8:32, NIV). Truth frees us from the
theological errors that have so captivated the religious world.
Second, the Holy Spirit also guides us to the truth about ourselves. When
we come to Jesus, our guilt is gone (1 John 1:9, Rom. 8:1). We are sons and
daughters of God, members of His family (John 1:12, Eph. 2:19). Despite
our own feelings of unworthiness, guilt, or shame, the Holy Spirit guides us
to the truth of the Word. We were created by God, redeemed by Christ, and
transformed by the Holy Spirit. The authoritative, infallible Word of God does
not lie. We are His children, forever secure in His love and grace.
 One of the functions of the Holy Spirit is to lead or guide us into truth,
as opposed to coercing us. Define the words guide and coerce. What is the
distinction between the two? What does this distinction reveal about how the
Spirit leads us?

What truth does the Holy Spirit guide us into?

What does the truth set us free from? And how does it do that?
STEP 3—Apply
Just for Teachers: The religious world is filled with scores of so-called
Christians with a very shallow Christian experience. Discuss with your
class how to avoid the trap of religious superficiality. Talk about why some
Christians spend so little time contemplating God’s Word.
Thought Questions:
 What is it that keeps some people from understanding the truths of God’s
Word?
16
teachers comments
 Why do even some Adventist Christians fail to embrace the joy of being
redeemed sons and daughters of God?
 How can we better understand the Word and receive the full blessing that
God intends for us?
Application Question: What are some of the things that keep us from
a deep, abiding experience with Christ through His Spirit-inspired Word?
STEP 4—Create
Just for Teachers: The apostle Peter summarizes the key thoughts
in our lesson well with these words: “Having been born again, not of
corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which
lives and abides forever” (1 Pet. 1:23, NKJV). The focus of our lesson
today is twofold. First, God’s Word is authoritative and reveals His
truth. Second, God’s Word is life changing. Help each class member
to see that truth is not a matter of personal opinion. Truth is found in
God’s Word. Guide your students also in understanding that, as they
study God’s Word with prayerful hearts, their lives will be completely
transformed.
Activities:
 Invite each class member to turn to the person next to him or her and
share the key thought that he or she will take home from today’s class.
 After class members have shared with one another, invite them to share
with the entire group the single most important thing that they have discov-
ered personally in this week’s lesson for their spiritual lives.
17
L esson 2 *January 7–13
The Holy Spirit: Working

Behind the Scenes
Sabbath Afternoon
Read for This Week’s Study: Ezek. 37:5, 9; Gen. 1:2; Job
26:13; Exod. 31:1–5; John 16:13, 14; Gal. 5:16–23.
Memory Text: “ ‘He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is
Mine and declare it to you’ ” (John 16:14, NKJV).
T
he Holy Spirit does not receive the same prominent attention in
Scripture as do the Father and the Son. Nevertheless, the Bible
tells us that the Holy Spirit was present at significant moments
throughout sacred history. At the beginning, at God’s creation of this
world, He was at work, but more in the background. He was active in
the inspiration of God’s prophets, thus playing a key role in the writ-
ing of God’s Word. He was also involved with the conception of Jesus
Christ in Mary’s womb.
Yet, He is not at the center of the biblical record, and we know
amazingly little about Him. He remains in the background, and that’s
because His role is to advance the work of Someone else in the
Godhead—Jesus, the Son of God—and to give glory to God the Father.
All this so that fallen human beings might be saved from the eternal
death that sin would otherwise bring them.
From the testimony of Scripture, we learn that the Holy Spirit will-
ingly and gracefully accepts a supporting, helping, sustaining, and
equipping behind-the-scenes role. No matter whether it is in creation
or redemption or mission, He does not seek to stand in the spotlight,
regardless of His crucial role.
18
S unday January 8
The Elusiveness of the Holy Spirit

Read John 3:3–8 and Ezekiel 37:5, 9. Why is the wind a fitting picture
for the mysterious workings of the Holy Spirit?

By comparing the Holy Spirit’s actions to that of the wind, Jesus
describes the Spirit’s elusiveness. The movements of the wind have
something mysterious about them. It is difficult to predict with exact-
ness where the wind comes from and where the wind is going. Who
hasn’t at times been baffled by the sudden appearance of wind, seem-
ingly out of nowhere?
Yet, we can learn to become somewhat familiar with the move-
ments and patterns of the wind. In a similar manner, the Holy Spirit
is active where He wills. No one can control Him. Yet, we can know
where He is active and at work. Just like the wind, the Holy Spirit
is invisible but can be most powerful. We, of course, can feel the
presence of the wind and can often see its effect, even if we can’t
see the wind itself. From a light breeze to deadly blasts, wind can
be a very powerful force. When the Holy Spirit is described as wind,
His activity has been connected with the idea of bringing life to the
dead. This assumes power to the highest potency, something that
only God is capable of doing.
How this is accomplished remains a mystery. God and His workings
through the Holy Spirit are greater than what we can fully comprehend,
as are so many things both secular and sacred.
This does not mean that we cannot know what the Holy Spirit
accomplishes. But we have to acknowledge that the appropriate virtue
in dealing with divine mysteries is humility. Humility appreciates the
grandeur of God, recognizes our creaturely limitations, and accepts our
need for divine revelation.
Ellen G. White has aptly stated: “The mysteries of the Bible, so far
from being an argument against it, are among the strongest evidences of
its divine inspiration. If it contained no account of God but that which
we could comprehend; if His greatness and majesty could be grasped
by finite minds, then the Bible would not, as now, bear the unmistak-
able evidences of divinity.”—Ellen G. White, Education, p. 170.
What are some unseen forces in nature that can impact our lives?
What should this teach us about the reality of unseen yet power-
ful influences in our world?

19
M onday January 9
The Holy Spirit at Creation

The first major work of God on this planet was its Creation. The
Bible clearly mentions God (Gen. 1:1) and Jesus Christ (Col. 1:16, 17)
as the Creator of heaven and earth and of all that, in fact, was made
(John 1:1–3). Yet, the Bible also mentions the presence of the Holy
Spirit in the work of Creation.
Read Genesis 1:2; Job 26:13; 33:4; Psalms 33:6; 104:29, 30. What was
the role of the Holy Spirit at Creation? How is the Spirit of God
related to the creation of life?

The Creation story in Genesis 1:2 mentions the presence of God’s
Spirit at Creation. Job 26:13; 33:4; Psalm 104:29, 30; and Psalm 33:6
support the active role of the Holy Spirit in the supernatural Creation
of the earth. While the Bible clearly mentions God the Father and His
divine Son, Jesus Christ, as being active in the Creation of the world
(see Isa. 64:8; Col. 1:16, 17), the Holy Spirit is present also, although
in a more subtle manner.
He does not appear as the central actor in the Creation story. Instead, He
is “hovering” over the void, and through His moving He is present at the
genesis of life on this earth. The Hebrew word for “moving over,” or “hov-
ering” (merahepeth) over, the surface of the earth that is used in Genesis
1:2 is the same word that is used in Deuteronomy 32:11, where God is
compared to an eagle hovering over its nest of young. The Holy Spirit is
intimately involved in the creation of life on this earth and takes care of
the newly created living beings as an eagle would do for its young. Psalm
104:30 suggests that the Creation act was possible only through the work
of the Holy Spirit and that He played an active part during this process.
The Holy Spirit was not only present at the Creation of this
world; He is also active in the process of our re-creation, in which
He gives us a new heart and new mind. How are both of these
activities related? What does the Sabbath tell us about this work
of Creation and re-creation?
20
T uesday January 10
The Holy Spirit and the Sanctuary

“And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among
them” (Exod. 25:8).
After the act of Creation, God’s plan of salvation is of prime impor-

tance in the Bible. In a fallen world, what good would Creation be
without the plan of Redemption? As sinners, we need not just a Creator
but also a Redeemer. How thankful we should be that we have that
Redeemer, Jesus Christ. Without Him, we would be without hope in a
world that, in and of itself, offers us none.
In the Old Testament it was the sanctuary and its service that illus-
trated God’s forgiveness of sin and foreshadowed the work of Jesus,
our Redeemer. It was here that the plan of salvation was revealed to
the ancient Israelites (see Heb. 4:2). While much of the sanctuary
service pointed to Jesus and His death for the forgiveness of sin, the
Holy Spirit is depicted as being actively involved by enabling specific
people to build the sanctuary according to the pattern God had revealed
to Moses.
Read Exodus 31:1–5. How was the Holy Spirit involved in the building
of the sanctuary? How did the Holy Spirit assist those who con-
structed God’s dwelling place?

The Bible tells us that the Holy Spirit was also present at the building
of the sanctuary, the central place where reconciliation between God
and human beings took place and a holy God met sinners. It was God
who communicated to Moses His plan to build the earthly sanctuary
according to the heavenly original (Exod. 25:9, 40).
The sanctuary was God’s model to illustrate His plan of salvation.
God was going to dwell amid His people in a special way, and He was
going to do it in the sanctuary, which He told them to build. And it was
the work of the Holy Spirit to enable human beings to accomplish,with
artistic skill and with beauty, what God had told them to do. Without
His help, Israel would not have been able to accomplish this artistic
craftsmanship.
Considering the power of the Holy Spirit, He certainly didn’t

need human help in building the sanctuary, but He enabled other
people to do it with skill and beauty. How and where can you
encourage and assist other people to use their talents to further
the kingdom of God to God’s glory?
21
The Holy Spirit in Glorifying Jesus Christ

The Holy Spirit was active during Old Testament times, although it
does not appear that His work was as extensive as it was in the New
Testament era. With the coming of Jesus, the promised Messiah, the
ministry of the Holy Spirit is intensified, and He gives His gifts to
all believers. While the New Testament tells us that the Holy Spirit is
active in many different ways in our spiritual lives and in the life of the
church, His most important work is to glorify Jesus Christ.
Read John 16:13, 14 and John 15:26. What does Jesus say is the work
of the Holy Spirit? How is all other work of the Holy Spirit related
to this central work?

Jesus tells us that the Holy Spirit speaks not of Himself but of
Jesus. His work consists in elevating the redemptive work of Jesus.
He keeps Himself in the background and puts the floodlight on Jesus.
It has been aptly said that “the Spirit’s message to us is never ‘Look
at me; listen to me; come to me; get to know me’ but always ‘Look at
Him, and see His glory; listen to Him, and hear His word; go to Him,
and have life; get to know Him, and taste His gift of joy and peace.’
The Spirit, we might say, is the matchmaker, the celestial marriage
broker, whose role it is to bring us and Christ together and ensure that
we stay together.”—J. I. Packer, Keep in Step With the Spirit: Finding
Fullness in Our Walk With God, revised and enlarged edition (Grand
Rapids, Mich.: Baker Books, 2005), pp. 57, 58.
This is highly significant. Any emphasis upon the work of the Holy
Spirit that detracts from the Person and work of Jesus Christ is not from
the Holy Spirit. As important as the Holy Spirit is for our spiritual lives,
He should never take the place that is due in our thinking and for our sal-
vation only to Jesus Christ. Wherever Jesus is exalted, the Holy Spirit is
at work. This is why we are called Christians—that is, followers of Christ
(compare with Acts 11:26)—rather than “Pneumians,” that is, followers
of the Spirit (see Graham A. Cole, He Who Gives Life: The Doctrine of
the Holy Spirit [Wheaton, Ill.: Crossways Books, 2007], p. 284).
Why is it so important for us to uplift the risen Lord in all that

we do? After all, think about what Jesus has done for us. We
owe everything to Him. How can we show our gratitude (see, for
instance, 2 Thess. 1:11, 12)?

22
T hursday January 12
The Holy Spirit and Christ

The Holy Spirit effected the incarnation of Jesus (Luke 1:34, 35). He
anointed Jesus for His mission (Luke 3:21, 22). The anointing of Jesus
endued Him with power to fulfill His Messianic mission and qualified
Him to bestow the Holy Spirit on His disciples. The Holy Spirit guided
and sustained Jesus in His temptations (Mark 1:12; Matt. 4:1; Luke
4:1, 2, 14) so that Jesus “is able to come to the aid of those who are
tempted” (Heb. 2:18, NKJV; compare with 4:15, 16). The Holy Spirit
empowered Jesus for this redemptive work (Heb. 9:14) and made Jesus’
resurrection possible (1 Pet. 3:18). In all this, the Holy Spirit remained
in the background and helped to bring Jesus Christ to prominence.
Read Luke 24:44–49; Galatians 5:16–23; and Ephesians 4:23, 24.

What do we learn about the work of the Holy Spirit in these pas-
sages? How does the Holy Spirit glorify Jesus?

The Holy Spirit glorifies Jesus in at least the following ways:
1. By teaching about Him in the Holy Scriptures in a trustworthy and
reliable manner. Nothing that is necessary for us to know about
Christ and His salvation is missing or misleading. It’s all there in the
Word of God, if we would but read it in faith and submission.
2. By drawing men and women into a saving relationship with Jesus
Christ. The Holy Spirit gently works on people’s hearts and minds.
He gives them understanding so that they understand spiritual
things and so that they will be willing to place their trust in Jesus
Christ and accept Him as their Leader and Redeemer.
3. By reproducing Christ’s character in us. He thus brings to life Christlike
virtues in our lives (Gal. 5:22, 23). Through the blood of Jesus we
are given victory over sin (compare Rev. 12:11), and the Holy Spirit
enables us to walk in faithfulness to God’s commandments.
4. By enabling us to live a Christlike, selfless, and loving life of ser-
vice to others. He calls men and women into specific lines of work
for God and enables us to reach out to others in the attractive Spirit
of Christ.
How does the work of reproducing the character of Christ in our

lives bring glory to the Father?

23

F riday January 13
Further Thought: No question, the work of the Holy Spirit is crucial

to our walk with the Lord. Again, we might not be able to see Him work,
but we can see the effect of His work in our lives and in the lives of others. If
your life has been changed through faith in Jesus, it has been changed only
through the work of the Holy Spirit in it. “While the wind is itself invisible,
it produces effects that are seen and felt. So the work of the Spirit upon
the soul will reveal itself in every act of him who has felt its saving power.
When the Spirit of God takes possession of the heart, it transforms the life.
Sinful thoughts are put away, evil deeds are renounced; love, humility, and
peace take the place of anger, envy, and strife. Joy takes the place of sadness,
and the countenance reflects the light of heaven.”—Ellen G. White, The
Desire of Ages, p. 173. These are wonderful promises, and an untold number
of lives have shown just how real they are. But the work of the Holy Spirit
is not instantaneous. We don’t automatically become the kind of people we
ought to be. A life of faith and submission to the Lord is a life of struggle,
of surrender, and of repentance when we fail. The Holy Spirit is the Divine
Agent that works in our lives to make us new creatures in Christ. This is,
though, the work of a lifetime. Although our faults and weaknesses should
spur us on to a greater surrender to our Lord, we must not let the devil use
them to discourage us in our Christian life, which he is always eager to do.
When taunted by our sins, we must always remember the death of Jesus
on behalf of sinners. It’s precisely because we are what we are—sinners in
need of grace—that Jesus died for us and gives us that grace.
 What can the Holy Spirit’s example teach you about minister-
ing from behind the scenes? That is, doing the work of the Lord in
a manner that many people don’t know about, see, or even appre-
ciate?
 How does the Holy Spirit elevate Jesus and put Him into
focus? How can you elevate Jesus without putting yourself at the
center of attention? Why is that sometimes so hard to do? How
can we fight the natural inclination to self-promotion?
24
i n s i d e
Story
A Gift in the Forest: Part 2
The Polish Union decided to rent the camp, and soon a truck from
Denmark arrived, filled with military surplus beds and dressers and kitchen
supplies! The union stepped out in faith and started holding camps at
Zatonie.
Ryszard [ree-SHARD] went to the local village council and explained
that the church wanted the campsite to train children and youth to be
good citizens. He reported on how the church already had used the camp
to benefit children from a coal mining region and children whose homes
had been destroyed during recent flooding. He explained the purpose of
Pathfinder camps and youth camps. Then he asked the council to consider
giving the camp to the Seventh-day Adventist Church. One member of the
local council objected, but in the end the council voted overwhelmingly
to give Camp Zatonie to the Adventist Church. A gift from Adventists
in Britain paid for the buildings (which were privately owned). God had
spoken.
Besides summer camps for youth, the campground hosts Poland’s
annual camp meeting. Hundreds of people who are not Adventists come to
this camp, and many leave having turned their lives over to Jesus.
Children are encouraged to bring non-Adventist friends to camp, and
some of these young people have decided to follow Jesus. Literature evan-
gelists use the camp as a training site for colporteurs, who practice their
sales skills in the villages around Zatonie.
When Ryszard first found Zatonie, he noticed some words written on
a building: “God doesn’t exist.” Two years later during a camp meeting,
he asked the youth what should be done about the graffiti. A young man
stood and said that he had written those words in 1989 while at a camp
for troubled teenagers. When he returned home, he learned that one of his
friends had become an Adventist. The friend invited him to church, and
in time, he, too, gave his life to Christ. God took away his desire to drink
and smoke and made him into a new person. So this young man who had
written the words against God on the wall during a drunken act of rebel-
lion helped to paint over them as a brother in Christ.
In 2010, part of your Thirteenth Sabbath Offering went to renovate
the buildings at Camp Zatonie. Part of this quarter’s offering will fund
live television productions aimed specifically at children and youth on
Hope Channel Poland. Thank you for your support through the Thirteenth
Sabbath Offering.
Ryszard Jankowski, now president of the West Polish Conference, was

Polish Union youth director when Zatonie’s story unfolded.

Web site: www.AdventistMission.org 25
teachers comments
The Lesson in Brief

Key Text: John 3:3–8
The Student Will:

Know: Recognize that the Holy Spirit is powerfully working in this world
and in his or her life, even if he or she is not able to fully discern and com-
prehend His ways.
Feel: Foster daily the feeling of openness to the ministry of the Holy
Spirit in his or her life.
Do: Submit to the guidance, conviction, and instruction of the Holy Spirit
in his or her daily life.
Learning Outline:
I. Know: Understanding the Background Role of the Holy Spirit
A Why does Jesus use the symbolism of wind to describe the working
of the Holy Spirit in His discussion with Nicodemus?
B How is the working of the Holy Spirit a divine mystery?

II. Feel: Creation and Redemption
A How do you feel knowing that the same power of the Holy Spirit that
brought this world into existence is available to us today to re-create our
lives in His image?
III. Do: Glorifying God

A One of the prime functions of the Holy Spirit is to glorify God. What
does it mean to glorify God, and how can we make glorifying God central
to our lives?
B How does the background ministry of the Holy Spirit, always “testify-
ing” of Jesus, provide a model of humility for each one of us today?
Summary: When we respond to the promptings of the Holy Spirit and allow Him
to take full control of our lives, we will glorify Jesus in all we do and will
reveal the fruit of the Spirit in our daily interactions with others.
26
teachers comments
Learning Cycle
STEP 1—Motivate
Spotlight on Scripture: John 3:3–8
Key Concept for Spiritual Growth: The Holy Spirit’s role through-
out the Bible is significant. He is our Teacher, our Guide, and our
Instructor. He convicts us of sin and reveals the path of righteousness.
He provides us with power to overcome and strength to resist tempta-
tion. His role is to exalt Jesus and glorify the Savior and lead us to do
the same in our own lives.
Just for Teachers: This week’s lesson especially highlights the ministry
of the Holy Spirit in Creation and Redemption. The Holy Spirit par-
ticipated with the Father and the Son in the beginning at Creation (Gen.
1:2; Ps. 33:4; and Ps. 104:29, 30). The psalmist declares, “You send
forth Your Spirit, [and] they are created” (Ps. 104:30, NKJV). The Spirit
brings life to all living creatures. The Holy Spirit played a significant role
in the Creation of the earth, and He also played a significant role at the
cross in the Redemption of all humanity. The Holy Spirit sustained and
strengthened Jesus throughout His entire life. He presided at the Savior’s
birth, guided Him throughout His ministry, attended to Him at the cross,
awaited Him at the Resurrection, and accompanied Him at the Ascension.
Emphasize that without the ministry of the Holy Spirit, we are life-
less, powerless, and spiritually dead. We may have a “form of godli-
ness” (2 Tim. 3:5) but are, in reality, a hollow shell of religiosity. It is
the Holy Spirit who breathes the life of God into our souls, testifies of
Christ, and exalts Him in our lives.
Opening Discussion: Nicodemus came to Jesus by night. We need

not condemn him for coming in the darkness. It is a miracle that he came
at all. The fact that he came is an indication of the moving of the Holy
Spirit on his heart. If you were Nicodemus and could make one request of
Jesus, what would it be? What was Nicodemus really seeking?

 What do you think prompted Nicodemus to come to Jesus?
27
teachers comments
 Why do you think that Jesus used the symbolism of wind with
Nicodemus?
 How does the symbolism of wind compare with the “Spirit of God . . .
hovering over” or blowing across the waters in Genesis 1:2 (NKJV)?
 What does wind indicate? Why is it an encouraging symbol for each one
of us?
STEP 2—Explore
Just for Teachers: The Holy Spirit first inspired the Bible writers.
Today He inspires us as we read their inspired words. The Holy Spirit
was present with His mighty power at Creation. Now, through that same
power, He works the miracle of re-creation in our lives. The Holy Spirit
strengthened Jesus to face the temptations of the devil. Now He strength-
ens us to face those same temptations. The Holy Spirit encouraged Jesus
with the hope of the Resurrection as He faced death, and He encourages us
with the hope of the resurrection as we face the end of our lives. The Holy
Spirit gives us the assurance that we are children of God and places within
our hearts the divine guarantee, or assurance, of eternal life through Jesus
Christ, our Lord.
Bible Commentary
I. The Fruit of the Spirit (Review Galatians 5:16–24 with the class.)
The verses of Galatians 5:16–24 are some of the most powerful ones in
the New Testament. Here the apostle Paul contrasts living in the flesh
and walking in the Spirit. The expression “walk in the Spirit” (Gal. 5:16,
NKJV) simply means living a life in harmony with spiritual ideals through
the power of the Holy Spirit. It means permitting heavenly values to guide
28
teachers comments
your life. It means filling your mind with eternal principles. It involves satu-
rating your thoughts with the life-giving Word. And it includes allowing the
principles of Scripture to guide everything you do.
In contrast to life in the Spirit, Paul describes life in the flesh—a life
governed by earthly passions, desires, and lusts. A person living in the flesh
is one who yields daily to the desires of the natural heart. One whose life
is dominated by the works of the flesh—such as lustful thoughts; an angry,
bitter spirit; an envious mind-set; or a lack of self-control—lives in his or
her own strength rather than in the power of the Spirit. In contrast to those
enslaved by the lusts of the flesh, there are those who are surrendered to, and
controlled by, the Holy Spirit. Their lives reveal the fruit of the Spirit, such as
love, joy, peace, long-suffering, and self-control.
What a contrast! How could two lives be more apparently different? What
enables one to walk in the joy of the Spirit, while another succumbs to the
lusts of the flesh? Christ’s counsel to Nicodemus reveals the answer: the
endowment, or the lack thereof, of the Holy Spirit. The wind, or the breath,
of the Holy Spirit is life changing (John 3:3–8). We find throughout the entire
Bible powerful indicators of the Holy Spirit’s working. The same Spirit’s
power that brought worlds into existence is available to us today. The same
Holy Spirit—who breathed life into Ezekiel’s valley of dry bones, causing a
mighty army to stand on its feet—is available to us today (Ezekiel 37). The
same Spirit who strengthened Jesus during His earthly life is available to us
today. It is this Spirit that performs the miracle of divine grace in the hearts of
believers so that we become a “new creation” in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17).
Ellen G. White wrote these insightful words to a missionary: “Appreciate
the fact that God is our efficiency. We do not remember this, and therefore
we lose much in religious experience. We work ourselves in place of being
worked by the Holy Spirit’s power.”—Testimonies to Southern Africa, p. 81.
Just as Creation did not take place on its own through some process of evo-
lution, re-creation does not take place on its own through some process of
human works or activity. It is the working of the Holy Spirit’s power in us that
transforms us into the image of Christ.
 What does it mean to walk in the Spirit? How can each one of us be more
sensitive to the working of the Holy Spirit in our own lives? Why is it possible
to have blind spots in our characters?
 What work might God want to do in our lives that we do not yet recognize?
 What other things may others see about us that we do not see? How might
the Holy Spirit be using these things to convict us of some blind spot in our own
characters?
29
teachers comments
STEP 3—Apply
Just for Teachers: The Holy Spirit testifies or glorifies Jesus and never
seeks glory for Himself. Discuss with your class how this attribute of the
Holy Spirit would solve most church conflicts in a very short amount of
time.
Thought Questions:
 How can we cultivate openness to the Holy Spirit’s working in our own
lives?
 How can we be more sensitive to the things that the Holy Spirit is
attempting to reveal to us?
STEP 4—Create
Just for Teachers: Just as the Holy Spirit filled Jesus’ life with divine
power, He longs to fill each of our lives with His power. Without the power
of the Spirit, we are doomed to failure in the Christian life. We can no more
re-create our hearts than we can create the world. We can no more breathe
life into these lifeless souls than Ezekiel could into the valley of dry bones.
Just as Mary could not conceive the Christ child unaided by the Spirit, we
can not conceive new life in our barren hearts without the Spirit of Christ.
Activities:
 Invite your class to spend a few moments reading the list of the works
of the flesh and the works of the Spirit in Galatians 5.
 Encourage class members to examine their hearts in light of these lists,
asking the Holy Spirit to empower them with the fruit of the Spirit.
 Ask class members to reflect silently upon which character traits they are
exhibiting from the list of the works of the flesh. Invite them to pray silently
as you end the class, asking for the fruit of the Spirit to replace the works of
the flesh in each of their hearts.
30
The Divinity of the Holy

Spirit
Sabbath Afternoon
Read for This Week’s Study: Acts 5:1–4; 1 Cor. 2:10, 11;
Isa. 63:10–14; Titus 3:4–6; Rom. 8:11; 1 Pet. 1:2.
Memory Text: “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love
of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all”
(2 Corinthians 13:14, NASB).
A
ll through the Bible, the deity of God the Father is simply assumed.
We find this truth expressed both in the Old Testament and in
the New Testament. It is one of the most crucial and founda-
tional of the many revealed truths in the Word of God.
The deity of Jesus also is affirmed in many places in Scripture,
especially, of course, in the New Testament, both in the Gospels and
the Epistles.
However, the deity of the Holy Spirit is taught in more subtle terms.
It can be inferred from various indirect biblical statements. Here we
need to compare scripture with scripture in order to study carefully
what God has revealed in His Word about the Holy Spirit. In doing so,
we should not affirm less than what Scripture states, and we also should
not “exceed what is written” (1 Cor. 4:6, NASB). This topic demands a
teachable attitude of humility; we should not make our human reason-
ing about God the standard of how the Holy Spirit should be under-
stood. Instead, we should accept and testify to what Scripture affirms,
no matter how hard some of the concepts might be for us to grasp fully.
31
S unday January 15
The Holy Spirit and God

The Bible does not present a systematic description of the divinity of
the Holy Spirit. Instead, we find interesting traces that indicate that the
biblical writers considered the Holy Spirit to be equal with God. There
are several biblical passages where the same activity is attributed to
God and then also to the Holy Spirit.
Read Acts 5:1–4. What can we conclude about God and the Holy Spirit
from Peter’s words to Ananias?

If the Holy Spirit were not God, then Peter would have been speaking
here in a very careless and fatally misleading manner. The interesting
aspect about the nature of the Holy Spirit, however, is the fact that the
apostle Peter puts God and the Holy Spirit on the same level. In Acts
5:3, he asks Ananias why he has lied to the Holy Spirit, and he contin-
ues at the end of Acts 5:4: “ ‘You have not lied to men but to God’ ”
(NASB). Peter clearly equates the Holy Spirit with God. His point is that
Ananias was lying not just to the apostles but to God Himself. Lying
to the Holy Spirit is lying to God. The Holy Spirit is God. The point is
made here very clearly.
Why such a harsh punishment for these two people’s actions?
We must remember that the believers of the early church in Acts were
“one in heart and mind” (Acts 4:32, NIV). This unity was a product of
the Holy Spirit, and this is the reason they voluntarily and freely shared
what they possessed. To lie with regard to the sharing was to deny the
unity of the community and to belie the Spirit that undergirded that
unity and made it possible.
This is why the lie of Ananias and his wife falsified the divine work
and presence of the Holy Spirit in the early church community. Such
dishonesty toward God is destructive and hinders the Spirit of God
from working effectively in the lives of believers. God wants us to serve
Him undividedly. Because the new faith community was at a crucial
juncture, God used drastic consequences to make sure that the new
church would work in unison and truthfulness with one another and be
willing to be led by His Spirit.
Think how easily Ananias and Sapphira may have justified their
sin. After all, haven’t we sold our own property and given some of it
to the church? What’s the big deal if we keep a little? What should
this story tell us about how careful we need to be regarding how
we justify our actions?
32
M onday January 16
The Holy Spirit’s Divine Attributes

In several biblical passages, the Holy Spirit is described as having
divine attributes.
What attributes and activities of the Holy Spirit are listed in the follow-
ing Bible passages that, otherwise, can be attributed only to God?
1 Cor. 2:10, 11; compare with Isa. 40:13, 14_______________________
Ps. 139:7 _________________________________________________
Heb. 9:14; compare with 1 Tim. 6:16____________________________
Luke 1:35; Rom. 15:19; compare with Ps. 104:30___________________
In his examination of the wisdom of God, Paul argues that it is the

Holy Spirit who makes this wisdom known to us. “Like knows like” is
the reasoning Paul employs here in his argument. Only One who is equal
to God can know the deep things of God (1 Cor. 2:10, 11). There is no
knowing God as does the Spirit, for He knows God from the inside.
He knows in a way that an outsider does not. The Holy Spirit is indeed
omniscient.
The presence of the Spirit is the presence of God. If I cannot flee to
a place where the Spirit of God is not, He is omnipresent (compare with
Ps. 139:7).
The Holy Spirit is said to be eternal (Heb. 9:14). According to the Bible,
how many eternal beings are there? Only God is eternal (1 Tim. 6:16). If
the Spirit is called eternal, then He must be God.
The Holy Spirit also is all-powerful or almighty. In Luke 1:35 the phrases
“the Holy Spirit” and “the power of the most High” (NASB) are synony-
mous constructions. Here they refer to a miracle of the first magnitude, the
virgin conception. In Romans 15:19, the apostle Paul acknowledges that
his ministry was achieved by “mighty signs and wonders, by the power of
the Spirit of God” (NKJV). Indeed, the Holy Spirit can do divine miracles.
Jesus also says that blasphemy against the Spirit is unforgivable (Matt.
12:31, 32; Mark 3:28, 29). This is incomprehensible unless the Spirit is
divine.
But perhaps the most amazing work of the Holy Spirit is His ability
to change human hearts and minds. It is the Holy Spirit who accom-
plishes a new spiritual birth (John 3:5–8). He has the power to accom-
plish something that only God can do.
33
T uesday January 17
Biblical Hints
There are various references to the Holy Spirit in the Bible that are
interchangeable with references to God.
Read Isaiah 63:10–14 and compare it with Numbers 14:11 and

Deuteronomy 32:12. To whom was the writer referring in these pas-
sages, and what does this tell us about the divinity of the Holy Spirit?

In Isaiah 63:10, the people rebelled and grieved the Holy Spirit.
However, the parallel account, as found in Numbers 14:11, states that “the
Lord said to Moses, ‘How long will this people spurn me?’ ” (NASB). And
in Deuteronomy 32:12, we are told that “ ‘the Lord alone guided him, and
there was no foreign god with him’ ” (NASB). Obviously the biblical writ-
ers saw God and the Holy Spirit on par with each other.
In 2 Samuel 23:2, we read that “ ‘the Spirit of the Lord spoke by me’ ”
(NASB), whereas in the parallel statement in 2 Samuel 23:3, it says:
“ ‘The God of Israel said . . . to me’ ” (NASB). Again, the conclusion
from this biblical parallel is that the Holy Spirit is considered to be
equal to God.
Compare 1 Corinthians 3:16, 17 with 1 Corinthians 6:19, 20, and

compare 1 Corinthians 12:11 with 1 Corinthians 12:28. How are the
references to the Holy Spirit and to God used interchangeably in these
passages? What is attributed to God and to the Holy Spirit alike?

In 1 Corinthians 3:16, 17, Paul uses similar language as in
1 Corinthians 6:19, 20. For the apostle Paul, to be indwelt by the Holy
Spirit is to be inhabited by God. By equating the expression “God’s
temple” (NIV) with a temple “of the Holy Spirit” (NIV), Paul points out
that the Holy Spirit is God.
In 1 Corinthians 12:11, Paul writes that it is the Holy Spirit who
distributes the spiritual gifts to each believer. A few verses later in
1 Corinthians 12:28, we are told that it is God who is doing it. The basic
message is clear: the Holy Spirit does the same action as God is doing,
powerful evidence that the Holy Spirit is equal to God.
Read again Numbers 14:11. In what ways might this be applied

to us today? Think about the miraculous ways God has worked
in our church. Think about all the reasons He has given us to
believe. How can we make sure we aren’t doing today what God’s
people did thousands of years ago?
34
Divine Work of the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit performs certain works, which the Bible ascribes
only to God. He is active in the divine work of the Creation, and He is
just as active in God’s re-creation of sinners.
Read Titus 3:4–6. How does Paul describe the involvement of the Holy
Spirit in the process of re-creation?

The Holy Spirit is mentioned side by side with “God our Savior”
(Titus 3:4, NASB) in the context of the washing of regeneration (bap-
tism) and our spiritual renewal (Titus 3:5). He is the agent of our new
birth. He renews our hearts. He awakens our desire to follow Christ. He
is the Spirit of life (Rom. 8:2). He is the One who sanctifies sinners and
transforms our characters. He helps us to be obedient to Jesus Christ,
who saved us. Only a Divine Being is capable of such wonderful things.
Compare Isaiah 6:8–10 with Acts 28:25–27. To whom do the biblical

writers attribute the divine speaking?

There are several biblical passages in which, on the one hand, God
is said to be speaking and in which other biblical writers state that the
Holy Spirit is said to be speaking. It is the Holy Spirit who supernatu-
rally imparted the Holy Scriptures to us (2 Pet. 1:21), something that
elsewhere is described as God’s inspiration (2 Tim. 3:16). Giving the
Scriptures is another divine work of the Spirit.
What does Romans 8:11 teach us about the divinity of the Holy Spirit?

The Bible states that the Holy Spirit raised Jesus from the dead and
will also raise us. Only God has the power to raise people from the
dead. Hence, the Holy Spirit is God.
What are changes you can make that would cause you to be more
open to the leading of the Holy Spirit? That is, what practices might
be keeping you from clearly discerning His leading in your life?
35
The Importance of His Divinity

What would be lost if the Holy Spirit were not God? If the Holy
Spirit is not fully God, the implications for salvation and worship are
serious. The Bible tells us that the Holy Spirit is responsible for regen-
erating believers. He dwells in us and fills us. He renews our thinking
and changes our characters. He has the power to resurrect. He makes
Christ’s followers as God is: holy. If the Holy Spirit is not God, how can
we be certain that He can do any of these things and do them in such a
way that they are acceptable to God?
Read 1 Peter 1:2; 2 Corinthians 13:14; and Matthew 28:18, 19. What
does the fact that the Holy Spirit is mentioned side by side with
God the Father, and Jesus Christ, the Son, in baptism and benedic-
tions tell us about the place of the Holy Spirit in the adoration and
worship of God?

The divinity of the Holy Spirit helps us to relate to Him in appropri-
ate ways that acknowledge Him for who He truly is. His divinity is
the presupposition for a God-centered spirituality. The New Testament
church without hesitation mentions the Holy Spirit side by side with the
other two members of the Godhead. The Holy Spirit occupies the same
rank and position in the act of baptism as do the Father and the Son.
Baptism has a deep spiritual significance and is an ordinance of pro-
found worship. What is true in the act of baptism is equally true of the
apostolic benediction. It is an invocation of adoration where the Holy
Spirit is praised just as are the Father and the Son. All three persons
of the Godhead are mentioned side by side and are affirmed equally.
The Holy Spirit is affirmed as a proper object of worship in the New
Testament, not just in baptism and in the apostolic benediction but also
in the constant requirement that we depend on Him for all spiritual
good and should obey Him as our divine teacher and sanctifier. Does it
matter that the Holy Spirit is God? Yes, very much so. If we know who
He truly is, and recognize and acknowledge His deity, we will honor His
work and rely on Him for our own personal growth and sanctification.
Think about what it means that the Holy Spirit, God Himself, is
working in your life. What great promises are found here for us
in knowing that it is God who is working in us to change us into
what we can be in Him? Why is this an uplifting and affirming
truth?
36
F riday January 20
Further Thought: Read Ellen G. White, “Misrepresentations of the

Godhead,” pp. 613–617, in Evangelism.
As we have seen this week, the biblical evidence for the divinity of
the Holy Spirit is very convincing. The Holy Spirit is God. But remem-
ber: in thinking about the Holy Spirit, we are dealing with a divine
mystery. We reiterate the point: just as we cannot fully explain God
and His nature, we have to resist the temptation to make our human
comprehension the norm for how God should be. Truth goes far beyond
human comprehension, especially when that truth deals with the nature
of God Himself.
At the same time, faith in the divinity of the Holy Spirit means more
than accepting the bare teaching of the Trinity. It includes reliance on
and confidence in the saving work of God as it is commissioned by the
Father and accomplished through the Son in the power of the Spirit.
“It is not essential for us to be able to define just what the Holy Spirit
is. . . . The nature of the Holy Spirit is a mystery. Men cannot explain
it, because the Lord has not revealed it to them. Men having fanciful
views may bring together passages of Scripture and put a human con-
struction on them, but the acceptance of these views will not strengthen
the church. Regarding such mysteries, which are too deep for human
understanding, silence is golden.”—Ellen G. White, The Acts of the
Apostles, pp. 51, 52.
 Austrian philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein once wrote: “What
we cannot speak about we must pass over in silence.” Although his
context was quite different from that which Ellen G. White wrote
above, the principle is the same. That is, why is it better to keep
silent about aspects of God and of spiritual truth in general that
have not been revealed by Inspiration?
 Sometimes it is helpful to reflect upon a theological position

by asking the question: What would be lost if the proposal were
untrue? For instance, What would be lost if Christ were not divine?
With regard to the Holy Spirit, reflect on the following question:
What would be lost if the Holy Spirit were not fully God?
 What does the following quote say to us on a practical level?

“The Holy Spirit, who is to fill us, is not some vague influence or
mystic force. He is a divine Person, to be received with deep humil-
ity, veneration, and obedience. Therefore it is not a question of our
having more of Him, but of His having more of us—yes, all there is
of us.”—LeRoy Edwin Froom, The Coming of the Comforter, p. 159.
37
i n s i d e
Story
Finding God’s Plan: Part 1
“Roza, take a look at this,” Grandmother said as she gave Roza a color-
ful pamphlet. “It’s an invitation to a series of lectures about the Bible. You
should go. You might learn something interesting.”
Grandmother knew that Roza, who was preparing to become a
teacher, was interested in religious things. She was active in her par-
ents’ church in Poland and even volunteered as a youth leader, though
she wasn’t much older than the youth she led. Her parents were proud
of her involvement with the church and of her other accomplishments.
Roza took the pamphlet from her grandmother and looked closely at
the colorful pictures on the front. She read the invitation and decided
to attend the lectures. She was curious about what she might learn.
Roza found a seat and settled down for the lecture. She met a young
man at the lectures who was about her age. As they became acquainted,
he invited her to attend a summer Bible camp that the church spon-
sored. Roza decided to go; she was curious about this church that
seemed to know so much about the Bible.
When she arrived at the Seventh-day Adventist youth camp, Roza
was a bit nervous about being among so many strangers. But the young
man who had invited her introduced her to several young people from
her hometown. She liked making new friends and soon found herself
enjoying the fellowship at the Bible camp as much as she did the Bible
studies.
When Roza returned home, she started attending the Adventist
church every Sabbath. She knew that her parents wouldn’t be happy
that she was attending a new church, so she didn’t tell them where she
was going on Sabbath mornings.
But soon her excitement about what she was learning spilled over,
and she told her mother everything she had learned at Bible camp and
church. She told her mother that smoking was not healthy and urged
her to quit. Roza also explained what she had learned about having a
personal relationship with Jesus. “We don’t have to confess our sins to
a priest,” she told her mother. “Just tell God.”
Roza’s revelation worried her mother. “Why do you want to get
involved in some strange church?” she asked. “We have a perfectly
good church.”
“But these people really love Jesus,” Roza explained. “They follow
the Bible. I want to learn what God teaches.”
“If you insist on becoming an Adventist,” her mother said with a
sigh, “don’t expect any financial support from me.”

teachers comments
The Lesson in Brief

Key Text: 1 Peter 1:2
The Student Will:

Know: Grasp the reality that the Holy Spirit is a Divine Being, just as the
Father and the Son are Divine Beings.
Feel: Appreciate the Holy Spirit’s role in re-creating believers in the
divine image and in transforming them into the likeness of Christ.
Do: Resolve to allow the divine power of the Holy Spirit to change his
or her life.
Learning Outline:
I. Know: Recognize the Spiritual Significance of the Holy Spirit as a Member
of the Godhead.
A What biblical evidence is there that the Holy Spirit is a Divine Being?
B Why is this biblical truth so important? What implications would
there be if the Holy Spirit were not a Divine Being as are the Father and
the Son?
II. Feel: Cherish the Holy Spirit’s Role in the Redemptive Process.
A How does an understanding of the Holy Spirit’s role in Redemption
make a difference in your own spiritual life?
B Why is the sin of Ananias and Sapphira in lying to the Holy Spirit so
serious? Why do you think God’s punishment was so severe?
III. Do: Apply the Divine Truth of Who the Holy Spirit Is to Our Own Lives.
A Why is the story of Ananias and Sapphira so important for the church
today?
B How do the Holy Spirit’s actions as the Third Person of the Godhead
make a difference in our daily spiritual lives?
Summary: When we understand the Holy Spirit’s role as the Third Person of
the Godhead, we are able to appreciate His ministry more and cooper-
ate with Him in making the positive choices for change that He points
out in our own lives. Grasping the reality of the Holy Spirit’s divinity
produces a heartfelt appreciation for who He is and a desire for Him
to change us.
39
teachers comments
Learning Cycle
STEP 1—Motivate
Spotlight on Scripture: 1 Corinthians 6:19, 20
Key Concept for Spiritual Growth: Just as the earthly tabernacle

was a dwelling place for the Shekinah glory of God, our bodies are
the temples of the Holy Spirit, designed to reveal God’s glory through
godly lives. The amazing truth of Scripture is that the God of the
universe longs to dwell in our hearts through the Person of the Holy
Spirit.
Just for Teachers: This week’s lesson is crucial to our understanding of

the ministry of the Holy Spirit in the life of each Christian. Understanding
that the Holy Spirit is the Third Person of the Godhead with the attributes
of the Father and Son makes a major difference in how we relate to the
role of the Holy Spirit in our lives. The Holy Spirit is not some force to be
used. He is not some power to be sought after. He is a divine Member of
the Godhead to whom we open our hearts and surrender our lives. We
are not to use the Holy Spirit. He is to use us to testify of the glory of the
crucified, risen, and soon-coming Christ.
The attributes of God are the attributes of the Holy Spirit. The Holy
Spirit is all-knowing, all-powerful, omnipresent, and eternal (1 Cor.
2:10, 11; Pss. 104:30; 139:7; Heb. 9:14). To be filled with the Spirit is
to be filled with the presence of God. The indwelling of the Spirit is the
indwelling of the Father’s presence in the temple of our hearts. It is
God dwelling within us through His Holy Spirit.
Opening Discussion: Throughout the Bible, the Father, Son, and Holy
Spirit are linked in an indissoluble union (Matt. 28:18, 19; 1 Pet. 1:2;
2 Cor. 13:14). They cooperated in the work of Creation and Redemption.
In what ways is Their work similar? How is Their work different? Which
of these Three is prominent in the Old Testament era? Who among Them
is the most prominently featured in the four Gospels? Why? Which One
is in the forefront in the book of Acts?
Some have called the book of Acts “The Acts of the Holy Spirit.”
Throughout the book of Acts and the epistles of Paul, the Holy Spirit
is present as the Third Person of the Godhead, convicting the soul of
sin, instructing in righteousness, testifying of Jesus, and changing lives.
Writing to Titus, the apostle Paul declares that we are saved “not by works
of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He
saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy
40
teachers comments
Spirit” (Titus 3:5, NKJV). It is through the Holy Spirit that our hearts are
renewed, our lives changed, and our souls refreshed.

 When you think of the Holy Spirit, what thoughts immediately come to
mind? Share with the class a few phrases that enter your mind when you
think of the Holy Spirit.
 How does an understanding of who the Holy Spirit is make a difference

in your life? In what practical ways does this knowledge make a difference
to us?
STEP 2—Explore
Just for Teachers: Throughout the New Testament, the Holy Spirit is
described as the divine regenerating, sanctifying, life-changing, and life-
giving Agent (Titus 3:5, 1 Pet. 1:2, 2 Cor. 3:6). In Romans 8, the apostle
Paul talks about living in the flesh and living in the Spirit. Living in the
flesh is the vain attempt to live the Christian life in our own strength
rather than in the power of the Holy Spirit. Living in the Spirit is living
a life of surrender to the Spirit’s convictions and claims. It is dying daily
to the desires of the carnal heart and being renewed by the sanctifying
grace of the Spirit.
Crucifixion is an exceedingly painful death. Christ’s crucifixion
certainly was. Christ died for our sins; but through the Holy Spirit,
we die to sin. Sin no longer is a way of life for the converted heart.
Our soul’s longing is to please Jesus, and this desire is accomplished
through the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit.
Bible Commentary
I. Understanding the Divinity of the Holy Spirit (Review 1 Peter 1:2 and Romans
15:19 with the class.)
41
teachers comments
What are the characteristics of God? What makes God, God? First, He is eternal.
He never had a beginning and will never have an ending. He is the great “ ‘I
AM’ ” (Exod. 3:14, NKJV). He is the One “who is and who was and who is to
come” (Rev. 1:4). The fact that God has existed from eternity sets Him apart from
all created beings in the universe. He is also omniscient or all-knowing (Dan.
2:20–22). There is nothing that an all-wise God does not know. His knowledge is
neither limited nor partial. He is both omnipresent and omnipotent, as well. His
Presence can be felt everywhere (Psalm 139). His power is limitless. He is the
eternal, all-knowing, all-powerful, and omnipresent God. The idea of the future
being “open,” in that there are some things God cannot know before they happen,
is alien to the Bible.
Here is an amazing truth. The same qualities that are attributed to God in
Scripture are also attributed to the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is also eternal
(Heb. 9:14). He is all-knowing, all-powerful, and omnipresent (1 Cor. 2:10,
11; Rom. 15:19; Ps. 139:7). The Father and Son are present with us, provid-
ing all the resources of heaven through the ministry of the Holy Spirit.
As children of God, we have been promised the wisdom and the power of
the Spirit. Through the Spirit, we have the assurance of eternal life and hope
beyond the grave (Rom. 8:12–17). If the Holy Spirit were not divine, how could
He offer us divine wisdom, sanctifying grace, life-changing power, and eternal
hope? If the Holy Spirit were a mere force, He certainly could not offer us the
assurance of eternal life. The eternal nature of the Godhead is absolutely critical
in our understanding of the significance of the Holy Spirit for Christian living.
Explore with your class the practical implications that the Holy Spirit is
eternal, all-knowing, all-powerful, and omnipresent. What do His attributes
mean in day-to-day Christian living?
Consider This: Why are these attributes of the Holy Spirit so important in
facing the temptations of the evil one? Why do some theologians declare that
belief in the Holy Spirit is one of the most misunderstood truths in the Bible and
that if we had a better understanding of who He is and how to experience His
life-changing power, the grip of sin on our lives would be broken?
STEP 3—Apply
Just for Teachers: We often struggle with the same selfish attitudes, the
same harmful habits, and the same sinful tendencies for years. Help your
class to understand the renewing, sanctifying, life-changing power of the Holy
Spirit as the Third Person of the Godhead.
Application Questions:
 How can we experience the life-changing power of the Holy Spirit that
the Scriptures describe?
42
teachers comments
 What are the things in our lives that distract us and keep us from enjoy-
ing the fullness of the Holy Spirit’s power?
 What can we do about these distractions? What is the key to victory over
these lifelong habits, attitudes, and behaviors that are not in harmony with
God’s will?
STEP 4—Create
Just for Teachers: This week’s lesson is especially designed to help

each class member understand the divine power of the Holy Spirit as
the Third Person of the Godhead. Help your class to understand with
clarity this vital truth for Christian living.
Activities:
 If supplies are available, provide a pencil and an index card to each
class member. Invite the class members to write in one sentence the most
significant thing they learned in class this week.
 As an encouragement to the class, ask members to read the sentence they
have written. Where supplies are unavailable, invite students to share their
thoughts aloud with the class.
43
The Personality of the Holy

Spirit
Sabbath Afternoon
Read for This Week’s Study: John 16:13, 14; Rom. 8:14–
16; Rom. 15:13; John 14:6; John 17:17; Rom. 5:5.
Memory Text: “ ‘But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father
will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your
remembrance all that I said to you’ ” (John 14:26, NASB).
B
ecause the Holy Spirit is occasionally depicted in the Bible in
impersonal terms, such as wind or fire, some have concluded
that He is impersonal, a type of divine power. In their view, He
is more like an electric current that empowers us rather than existing as
a personal Being. But the question is not whether some passages can be
brought forward that denote more impersonal operations or influences
of the Holy Spirit. The question is whether there are numerous portions
of Scripture that positively do establish His personality.
There are texts, and we need to take them into consideration in order
to gain a more complete picture of who the Holy Spirit is.
This week we will learn more about the personality of the Holy Spirit
as He is described in Scripture. This truth will help us better understand
the role of God’s divine Spirit in our lives. And it will help us to gain a
deeper understanding of the importance of the belief in the personality
of the Holy Spirit for our spiritual life. Only when we entertain right
thoughts about Him can we render to Him that love, reverence, confi-
dence, and submission that are due to Him.
44
S unday January 22
Jesus’ Description of the Holy Spirit

Read John 16:13, 14; John 15:26, 27; and John 14:17, 26. What very
personal characteristics does Jesus attribute to the Holy Spirit in
these passages? What does it mean to you that Jesus describes the
Holy Spirit as a Helper or Comforter ( parakletos)?

According to Jesus, the Holy Spirit guides, speaks, hears, discloses,
and glorifies (John 16:13, 14, NASB). The Holy Spirit also teaches and
reminds us (John 14:26). He dwells in us (John 14:17), He testifies
(John 15:24, 26), and He convicts (John 16:8). These sound more like
the actions of a sovereign personality than they do an impersonal force.
Read John 14:16–18. How would Jesus’ promise be fulfilled? How are
the disciples not left alone?

Jesus cares for His followers. He would not leave His disciples as
orphans. He promised to send the Holy Spirit. Jesus here specifically
says that He will send “another helper” or “comforter.” The words that
Jesus uses here are significant. He promises to send another helper.
Not a different one. The Greek word for “another” is allos. In the Greek
language of the New Testament, allos indicates that Christ will send
another comforter who is numerically distinct but is of the same char-
acter; that is, who is similar to Himself. In other words, Jesus promises
One like Himself, One who will take His place, One who will continue
to do His work in us, and who is His representative.
This work of the Holy Spirit is the work of a helper or comforter. The
Bible here uses the Greek word parakletos (John 14:16) to describe
someone who is called upon for support, for assistance—someone
called to our aid. Just as Jesus is a Person, the Holy Spirit is also per-
sonal. This idea is supported by the fact that personal attributes are
often ascribed to the Holy Spirit (see John 14:26, 15:26, Acts 15:28,
Rom. 8:26, 1 Cor. 12:11, 1 Tim. 4:1).
Why is it so much more comforting to know that the Holy Spirit

is a personality instead of a mere force?

45
M onday January 23
Personal Aspects of the Holy Spirit:

Part 1
As you read the following texts, ask yourself if they sound as if they
are talking about an impersonal force or about a divine Person.
Rom. 8:14–16, 27; 15:30; 1 Cor. 2:10; Acts 8:29; 10:19, 20; 28:25.

Can an impersonal force intercede in our behalf ? Does an imper-
sonal spirit or power have the ability to reveal to us things about God?
Does an impersonal influence have the ability to speak? All those bibli-
cal statements make much more sense if the Holy Spirit is a personal
being as opposed to some impersonal force.
Read the following texts. What personal attributes are ascribed to the
Holy Spirit in these passages? Eph. 4:30; Acts 5:3, 9; 1 Cor. 12:11;
Rom. 15:30.

The distinctive characteristics of personality are knowledge (or
understanding), feeling, and will. Only a personal being can be grieved.
Only a personal being can be deceived and lied to. Only a personal
being has the ability to choose as he wills and has his own volition. The
will is perhaps one of the most distinctive elements and characteristics
in any personality. And only a personal being has the capacity to love.
True love is not conceivable in an abstract and impersonal manner.
Love comes with a very personal touch. These predicates of personal-
ity indicate that the Holy Spirit is a self-conscious, self-knowing, self-
willing, and self-determining Being, capable of love. He is not a shadowy
effluence or an impersonal essence. The Holy Spirit is spoken of in
these personal ways because God Himself is a personal God.
“The Holy Spirit has a personality, else He could not bear witness to
our spirits and with our spirits that we are the children of God. He must
also be a divine person, else He could not search out the secrets which
lie hidden in the mind of God.”—Ellen G. White, Evangelism, p. 617.
How does the biblical perspective that the Holy Spirit has char-
acteristics of a personality impact our relationship with Him?
What would be different if the Holy Spirit were just an imper-
sonal power as opposed to God Himself?
46
T uesday January 24
Personal Aspects of the Holy Spirit:

Part 2
A challenge we face in understanding the Holy Spirit is that we can
imagine God as a Father in a somewhat tangible way. Many also have
a concrete picture of Jesus, as He is described in the Gospels. He took
our human nature and appeared to us in human form.
The Holy Spirit, however, is presented in a very different manner.
He is seemingly impalpable, much harder to comprehend than are the
Father and the Son.
Hence, some draw the conclusion that the Holy Spirit is only an
impersonal power. As we have seen so far, that idea doesn’t really do
justice to the nature of the Holy Spirit. In fact, there are statements
in the Bible that would make no sense if the Holy Spirit were just an
impersonal force or (divine) power.
Carefully read the following two passages and see if they make sense
if you replace the reference to the Holy Spirit with the impersonal
word power. Why do these texts make sense only if the Holy Spirit
is, indeed, a Person?
Rom. 15:13________________________________________________
1 Cor. 2:4_________________________________________________

The statement of the apostles that “ ‘it seemed good to the Holy
Spirit and to us’ ” (Acts 15:28, NASB) would be absurd if the Holy
Spirit were only a power or an impersonal influence. The statement
instead indicates another personal Being, much the same as both the
Father and Son are personal Beings.
Furthermore, how can believers be baptized “ ‘in the name of the
Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit’ ” (Matt. 28:19, NASB) if the
first two who are mentioned are Persons but the third mentioned is not?
That doesn’t make the best sense. Instead, all three are mentioned as
being part of the same one name in whom we are baptized. Thus, the
Holy Spirit is revealed here to be on the same level as God the Father
and God the Son.
Ellen G. White has perceptively stated that “there are three living
persons of the heavenly trio . . . the Father, the Son, and the Holy
Spirit.”—Ellen G. White, Evangelism, p. 615. She, too, is very clear
about the existent personality of the Holy Spirit.
47
The Spirit of Truth

Read John 14:6 and 17:17. What is the meaning of truth in these pas-
sages?

In the Gospel of John, the word truth is a key term. Our contempo-
rary understanding of truth often is very abstract and theoretical. In
the Western world it has been shaped by Greek philosophy. However,
in the Bible, and particularly in John’s Gospel, truth carries a rather
personal and specific meaning: Jesus is the truth (John 14:6). While
God’s Written Word is truthful (compare with John 17:17, Ps.
119:142), God’s truth is revealed in a supreme way in the Person of
Jesus Christ. A true knowledge of God is given to us in Jesus, of whom
the Scriptures speak, because God has revealed Himself through Him.
Read John 15:26 and 16:13. What function does the Holy Spirit have
as the Spirit of truth?

In John 16:13, we are told that the Spirit of truth will guide us into all
truth. He does this by pointing to Jesus Christ and by helping us to remem-
ber what Jesus has said (John 15:26) and done for us. The truth into which
the Holy Spirit leads us is very personal: He lifts up Jesus and leads us into
a living and faithful relationship with Him. When Jesus talked with the
woman of Samaria, He said that God must be worshiped in spirit and truth
(John 4:24). When we ask for the leading of the Holy Spirit, He will lead
us to Jesus, who is the way and the truth and the life (John 14:6).
Truth in the Bible is no abstract thing or theory, such as often appears
in philosophy. Truth encompasses a deeply personal and faithful rela-
tionship to our Creator and Redeemer, who is called “the God of all
truth” (compare with Deut. 32:4, Ps. 31:5). Thus, the Holy Spirit is
aptly called the “Spirit of truth” (John 14:17, NASB; 16:13, NASB),
who is sent to us from God the Father (John 15:26), indicating not only
His personal character but also His divinity.
We do tend to think of truth in terms of propositions, such as the

logical concept known as modus ponens. “If A, then B. A, there-
fore B.” And no question, a lot of what we understand as truth we
understand as propositions. How, though, do you understand the
idea of truth as a Person? Bring your answer to class on Sabbath.
48
Why Does It Matter?

The question of the personality of the Holy Spirit is of utmost
importance, and it has highly practical implications. “If He is a divine
person, and we think of Him as an impersonal influence, we are rob-
bing a divine person of the deference, honor, and love that is His due.”
—LeRoy Edwin Froom, The Coming of the Comforter (Hagerstown,
Md.: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1956), p. 40.
If we think of the Holy Spirit only as a mysterious divine power,
our thoughts will be: How can I have more of the Holy Spirit? But if
we think of the Holy Spirit as a divine Person, we will ask: How can
the Holy Spirit have more of me? The decisive point is: Do you want
to possess the Holy Spirit, or do you want the Holy Spirit to possess
you? Do you resist His influence, or are you willing to follow Him in
joyful obedience (see Rom. 8:12–14, Gal. 5:18–24)? Do you want to
use the Holy Spirit according to your plans, or do you rely on Him so
that He can enable you to become more like Jesus Christ and do what
He has in mind for you? Do you take seriously the fact that “your
body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have
from God” (1 Cor. 6:19, NASB), and are you willing to glorify God
with how you live?
Read Romans 5:5 and Ephesians 2:18, 19. How are the Holy Spirit and
God’s love connected? What impact does that have on you person-
ally and on the church?

People consciously choose to cooperate with one another. We are
invited to work together with the Holy Spirit, while He leads and
transforms us personally and God’s church corporately. If we do not
accept the Holy Spirit as a Person of the triune Godhead, it will be
easier for us to ignore Him, to deafen our ears to His invitation, and
to harden our hearts against His life-changing influence. And because
we are fallen, sin-damaged beings in need of God’s transforming
grace, the last thing we need to do is ignore the prompting of the Holy
Spirit in our lives. If anything, we need to give more of ourselves to
Him. Thus, in our acknowledgment that the Holy Spirit is a divine
Person who wants to use us, God stands at the center of our Christian
experience.
“We cannot use the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is to use us.”—The
Desire of Ages, p. 672. What do you think Ellen G. White meant
by that? How can the Holy Spirit use us? (See Phil. 2:13.)
49
F riday January 27
Further Thought: Read Ellen G. White, “Let Not Your Heart Be

Troubled,” pp. 669–672, in The Desire of Ages, where she speaks about
the Holy Spirit. Also read “Dealing With False Science, Cults, Isms, and
Secret Societies,” pp. 613–617, in Evangelism.
“And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been
given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples
of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the
Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have
commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the
age’ ” (Matt. 28:18–20, NKJV). Notice, as Jesus gave them their calling
and work, He said to baptize disciples in the “name,” singular, of the
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He didn’t say “names” of the Father, Son,
and Holy Spirit, but just “name” (Greek onoma). This is more powerful
proof of the triune nature of our One God (“ ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord
our God, the Lord is one!’ ” [Deut. 6:4, NKJV]). As this week’s lesson
has already pointed out, no one questions the personality of the Father
and the Son; thus, why should anyone do that with the personality and
personhood of the Holy Spirit? According to the Bible, we have the
loving, caring, and comforting presence of God Himself working in us
and through us. That’s who the Holy Spirit is and what He does. And
how much nicer it is to know that this abiding presence is a Person, just
as much as the Father and Jesus are. Yes, it’s hard to fully understand.
But so what? If we can’t fully understand the nature of something as
basic as light or wind, how much more so will we not be able to fully
understand the nature of the Holy Spirit Himself ?
 In class, go over your answer to Wednesday’s question about
truth being a Person, Jesus Christ. What does that mean? Why
would Jesus be the Truth? How do we understand “truth” that
way—instead of seeing it merely as precepts or propositions?
 Ellen G. White wrote: “We need to realize that the Holy Spirit,
who is as much a person as God is a person, is walking through
these grounds.”—Evangelism, p. 616. What does this tell us about
the reality and presence of the Holy Spirit?
 Go back over some of the traits and characteristics of the Holy

Spirit that we have seen this week. Which ones are especially com-
forting to you? Which one means the most to you? Share in class
why you chose what you did.
 What can you better relate to, an impersonal force or a person-

ality? What are the implications of your answer?
50
i n s i d e
Story
Finding God’s Plan: Part 2
Roza continued attending the Seventh-day Adventist church, and she
became convinced that this was where God wanted her to be. After attending
the church for several months, Roza asked to be baptized.
Her parents were angry when she told them about her decision. For
the first time in her life, her father hit her. And her mother demanded
that she leave the house.
Roza packed a few clothes and her school textbooks and left her par-
ents’ home. She went to stay with an Adventist family who lived nearby.
Two weeks later Roza’s mother sent her sister to ask her to return home.
She was permitted to sleep in her own bed, but her parents no longer
supported her financially. A scholarship paid her school tuition, but
Roza took a job cleaning the church to pay for food and other neces-
sities. She spent most of her time in class and studying in the school
library, going home only to sleep. Roza managed to finish college on
her own.
Roza knew that her mother was worried about her. “How will you ever
find a husband?” she asked. Roza knew her mother had a point, because
there weren’t many Adventists in Poland. But she claimed God’s prom-
ises to provide for her in every way.
While Roza was preparing for baptism, she met Krystov [Chris-toff],
a young man who lived in another city and also was planning to be
baptized. The two began writing to each other, and in time they began
dating. Eventually, they were married.
Krystov entered the ministry, and Roza began her career as a teacher.
Her family saw that the couple was happy in their faith and in their work,
and they have reconciled with their daughter. Roza hopes that one day
soon her parents will find the joy in Jesus that she and Krystov know.
Roza is grateful to God for leading her to the Savior through the influ-
ence of her grandmother, a Bible lecture brochure, and a Bible camp
filled with friendly youth who welcomed her.
This quarter you can help reach many more people for Jesus in Poland
through your Thirteenth Sabbath Offering. Part of this quarter’s offering
will fund live television programs aimed specifically toward children
and youth on Hope Channel Poland. Thank you for your support through
the Thirteenth Sabbath Offering. Did you know that you don’t have to
wait until the last Sabbath of the quarter to give to this special offer-
ing? Give online now at our secure Web site: giving.adventistmission
.org (choose “13th Sabbath Offering” from the pull-down fund menu).
Thank you!

teachers comments
The Lesson in Brief

Key Texts: John 14:16–18, 16:5–15
The Student Will:

Know: Recognize the importance of understanding that the Holy Spirit is a
divine Personality, not merely a force proceeding from the Father.
Feel: Experience a deeper appreciation of, and dependence on, the Holy
Spirit’s ministry in daily living.
Do: Develop sensitivity to the voice of the Spirit and a more complete
openness to responding to His leading.
Learning Outline:
I. Know: The Holy Spirit Is Just as Much a Divine Person as Are the Father
and the Son.
A What attributes of personality does the Bible ascribe to the Holy Spirit?
B How do you define “personhood”? What makes a person a person? How do
the qualities of the Holy Spirit, found in the Bible, give evidence of these traits?
II. Feel: The Holy Spirit Longs to Fill Each Believer.

A Why is it so important to recognize that the Holy Spirit is the Third Person
of the Godhead and as much a divine Personality as are the Father and the
Son?
B How do you feel knowing that Jesus has not left us orphans but longs
to be personally present with us through the ministry of the Holy Spirit?
III. Do: The Holy Spirit Longs to Reveal Jesus More Fully.
A The highest delight and greatest joy of the Holy Spirit is to “testify”
of Jesus in our lives. Determine to set aside time each day to read some
portion of the Gospels in order to give the Spirit space to glorify Jesus in
your life. What have you found most helpful in your own spiritual life to
allow you time to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit?
B What specific experiences could you share with the class regarding
times in which the Holy Spirit has revealed God’s love? How have they
been specifically meaningful to you?
Summary: When we open our hearts to the ministry of the Holy Spirit, realizing
that He is the personal Representative of Christ, the Third Person of the
Godhead, He will reveal Jesus to us in all of His beauty and glorify the liv-
ing Christ in our lives.
52
teachers comments
Learning Cycle
STEP 1—Motivate
Spotlight on Scripture: John 16:7
Key Concept for Spiritual Growth: The Holy Spirit is not limited
by time or place. Whenever we need Him, He is there. Wherever we
go in Christ’s name, He will be there, guiding, counseling, encourag-
ing, strengthening, and inspiring us with hope. As we grasp the reality
of the Spirit’s daily, continual presence, our hearts will be overjoyed.
Just for Teachers: This week’s lesson unfolds the personality of the
Holy Spirit throughout Scripture. Some want to deny that the Holy Spirit
is the Third Person of the Godhead. They believe that the Holy Spirit is a
force or an essence that proceeds from the Father, not a distinct Being and
divine Personality.
In our study this week, we will systematically review the Bible pas-
sages that clearly demonstrate both the divine nature and Personhood
of the Holy Spirit. Three basics of personality are a mind that reasons,
a will that chooses, and speech that communicates. The Holy Spirit pos-
sesses all three. We will examine the first two in more depth in this lesson.
Opening Discussion: When you think of the Holy Spirit, what do you
think of ? How clear is your own thinking on the nature, role, and ministry
of the Holy Spirit? It certainly is much easier to think of the Father and Son
as divine Personalities than it is to think of the Holy Spirit as such.
We often equate visibility with personhood. It is difficult to imagine a
person who is invisible. The nature of the Holy Spirit is a mystery. Infinite
things are difficult for the human mind to comprehend; but just because
we do not fully understand something does not mean that the thing we do
not fully understand does not exist.

 Why is understanding the nature of the Holy Spirit so important?
 Why do God’s people need the ministry of the Holy Spirit in their
daily lives?
 What can we learn from Jesus’ description of the Holy Spirit in John
16:13, 14?
STEP 2—Explore
Just for Teachers: When we approach divine mysteries, it is important

53
teachers comments
to discover what the Bible says and to be willing to leave unanswered what
it does not say. In this week’s lesson, we will focus on what the Bible teaches
on the divine Personality of the Holy Spirit, finding encouragement and
strength for our lives today.
Bible Commentary
I. “Called to One’s Side”: The Holy Spirit as Helper and Comforter (Review
John 14–16 with the class.)
In Jesus’ discussion of the Holy Spirit in John 14–16, He uses the term
“ ‘Helper’ ” (NKJV) or “Comforter” (KJV) on four separate occasions
(John 14:16, 26; 15:26; 16:7). The Greek term used in these passages
-
is parakletos, which literally means “ ‘called to one’s side,’ i.e., to one’s
aid.”—Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, s.v. “para-
kletos,” accessed March 29, 2016, https://www.blueletterbible.org/search
/Dictionary/viewTopic.cfm?topic=VT0000499. In an ancient court of
law, when someone was tried, this person was assigned a parakletos, - who
would come to this person’s aid and provide for the needs of this person.
(Ibid.) These needs might be physical, such as the need for food, blankets,
or water. Additionally, they might be emotional or psychological needs,
such as the need for encouragement and hope. Or they might be legal
needs, such as the need for a defense or an advocate when the charges
were brought forward in court.
What an image to use in order to describe the Holy Spirit: One who
comes alongside of us to meet our physical, mental, emotional, and
spiritual needs! There is never a situation that we face as God’s chil-
dren when He is not there. There is never an experience with which we
are confronted that He is incapable of handling. Our divine Helper is
always there, ready to help in our times of need.
Consider This: What is the original Greek term for Holy Spirit that is used
in John 14:16, and what does that literally mean? How does its meaning
help us understand more fully the concept of the Holy Spirit as both Helper
and Comforter? How does He come to our aid? What needs does He fulfill?
II. The Person of the Holy Spirit (Review Romans 8:27 and 1 Corinthians 12:11
with the class.)
The apostle Paul uses two amazing terms to describe the Holy Spirit’s
divine Personhood: “mind” and “will.” In Romans 8:27, Paul speaks of the
“mind of the Spirit” (NKJV). In 1 Corinthians 12:11, he points out that the
Holy Spirit gives spiritual gifts to each believer individually “as He wills.”
54
teachers comments
The mind and the will are two unique functions of personhood. Let’s look
more closely at the mind and the will in the Bible, as presented in the context
of human believers and Christ, to infer more fully what it means for the Holy
Spirit to be endowed with both.
The mind is the center of thought. It is here that reason, conscience, and
judgment influence decisions. The Bible uses the word mind to embody con-
cepts of holiness, unity, and soundness of mind—qualities believers are urged
to aspire to and pray for. For example, the Bible tells us we may have the mind
of Christ (Phil. 2:5, 1 Cor. 2:16), which is to say, His holy character. And
when speaking of the need for unity among believers, the Bible urges us to be
of the “same mind” (Rom. 12:16, Phil. 4:2) and “one mind” (2 Cor. 13:11).
Coming into Christ’s presence imparts soundness of mind, as the story of
the demoniac powerfully illustrates. Subsequently, when the demons are cast
out, the demoniac is found to be in his “right mind” (Mark 5:15, Luke 8:35),
a phrase that also can be translated from the Greek to mean “to be of sound
mind.”—Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, s.v. “sophro-
neo,” accessed March 29, 2016, https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/Lexicon
/Lexicon.cfm?strongs=G4993&t=KJV.
Just as the endowment of a mind is a defining characteristic of personhood
for both the human and the divine, so is the will. Animals have minds. But the
will, or the ability to make rational choices, lifts us above the animal creation.
Being endowed with a will reflects part of what it means to be fashioned in the
image of God. We are not merely creatures, propelled by instinct and driven by
biological desires. God has given each of us the capacity to make moral choices
through the right exercise of the will. Ellen G. White states it succinctly: “The
will is the governing power in the nature of man, the power of decision, or
choice. Every human being possessed of reason has power to choose the right.
In every experience of life, God’s word to us is, ‘Choose you this day whom
ye will serve.’ Joshua 24:15. Every one may place his will on the side of the
will of God, may choose to obey Him, and by thus linking himself with divine
agencies, he may stand where nothing can force him to do evil.”—Education,
p. 289. It is through the right exercise of the will, under the guidance of the
Holy Spirit, that a godly character is developed.
Because the Holy Spirit has both a divine mind that thinks and reasons and a
divine will that chooses, He must, by very definition, be a divine Person. He is
not merely a force that proceeds from the Father, one aspect of God’s personal-
ity. He is a separate, distinct Personality. The Holy Spirit thinks, reasons, makes
decisions, and chooses. He is as much a real and divine Personality as are the
Father and the Son.
Consider This: Define the characteristics of personhood and why, based

on these criteria, the Holy Spirit—mysterious though He may be—fulfills the
definition of personhood.
55
teachers comments
STEP 3—Apply
Just for Teachers: Lead your class into a practical discussion of

how the Holy Spirit reveals the truth of God’s Word and how Jesus
is “ ‘the way, the truth, and the life’ ” (John 14:6, NKJV). If Jesus is
“ ‘truth,’ ” what does He mean when He says to His disciples that the
Holy Spirit will lead them into “ ‘all truth’ ” (John 16:13)?
Thought/Application Questions:
 When we seek the Holy Spirit to be in our midst, we are not seeking
some cosmic force to guide us. When we seek guidance from the Holy
Spirit, we are not hoping for a mystical presence to lead us to some inner
light. We are asking the God of the universe to send the Third Person of the
Godhead to give us the support we need. Why does the Holy Spirit seem so
mysterious at times? How can He become more real in our lives?
 What can we do as individuals to be more sensitive to the working of
the Holy Spirit in our lives?
 What practical things can we do to hear the voice of God speaking
through the Holy Spirit as we read God’s Word?
STEP 4—Create
Just for Teachers: The Holy Spirit is a powerful Ally in overcoming

sin and enabling us to live joyful and abundant Christian lives. The Holy
Spirit is available to strengthen us as we face temptation, to encourage us
in times of discouragement, and to guide us in times of decision. As we give
the Holy Spirit permission to fill our lives with His divine presence, we will
live life to the fullest rather than struggling in our own strength against the
wiles of the evil one and living lives of frustrated defeat. We will rejoice in
the victories that the Holy Spirit gives.
Activities:
 Ask your class to share the most significant thought they will take away
from this week’s lesson.
 Discuss with your class what it means to them personally that the Holy
-
Spirit is our divine parakletos.
 Invite your class to share ways they have found to hear the Spirit’s voice
as they have meditated on the Word and works of God.
56
L esson 5 *January 28–February 3
The Baptism and Filling

of the Holy Spirit
Sabbath Afternoon
Read for This Week’s Study: Mark 1:8, Eph. 5:18, Acts 13:52,
Luke 11:8–10, Acts 5:32, Gal. 5:16–26.
Memory Text: “ ‘The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy;
I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full’ ” (John
10:10, NIV).
A
s Christians, we must be filled with the Holy Spirit. Without
Him, our witness will be powerless and our Christian lives
nothing but a burden. We might have learning, talent, and
eloquence, but without the Spirit, we cannot experience life as God
intended for us to. We will not have the assurance of salvation and
will not know the joy that comes from serving our Lord. We will be
Christians in name only, and a Christian in name only is not really a
Christian at all.
Jesus, however, wants us to live life to its fullest. He wants to give us
life as it is meant to be—a life that is fulfilling and meaningful because
it is rooted in the Source of all life: Jesus Christ. He is the Creator of
all life, and the only way to eternal life. “ ‘I am the way, the truth, and
the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me’ ” (John 14:6,
NKJV). This fullness is possible only by being joined to Him, and this
can happen only through the Holy Spirit’s working in our lives.
This week we will study what the Bible says about the baptism of
the Spirit and what it means to be filled with Him. We will also look at
some evidence that testifies that we are, indeed, filled with the Spirit.
* Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, February 4.
57
S unday January 29
The Baptism of the Holy Spirit

Read Mark 1:8 (compare with Matt. 3:11, Luke 3:16, and John 1:33),
Acts 1:5, and Acts 11:16. What other rite of initiation goes together
with the baptism of the Spirit?

In the New Testament, there are only seven passages that speak about
being baptized in the Holy Spirit. Four of those passages go back to
John the Baptist and point to Pentecost. Here the Holy Spirit was given
to usher in the beginning of “the last days” of salvation history.
John, however, in contrast to the other Gospels, does not use the
future tense when speaking about the baptism of the Spirit. Instead, he
uses a present participle, indicating that this is something that has con-
tinuing validity (see John 1:33). The same tense is used by John just a
few verses earlier in John 1:29, when he talks about another important
work of Jesus: the taking away of the sins of the world. The ministry of
Jesus consists in taking away our sins and in giving us the Holy Spirit.
This twofold experience is also reported in Acts 2:38. After their eyes
were opened to Christ, the disciples received both: forgiveness of sins
and the Holy Spirit. The same experience is reported about the believ-
ers in the house of Cornelius in Acts 10:43, 44 and later in Acts 11:16.
Water baptism is known as the baptism of repentance (Acts 19:4).
When we repent of sin and are baptized in the name of Jesus, we also
receive the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:28–39).
In the New Testament, the receiving of the Holy Spirit and baptism
belong together. They signal our new birth. In baptism we are identi-
fied with Christ, and Jesus gives us the Holy Spirit so that we can live
in His power and proclaim the good news. The baptism of the Spirit is
no second work of grace at a later stage in life that some associate with
miraculous gifts.
In 1 Corinthians 12:13, Paul does not have in mind the unique expe-
rience at Pentecost but rather the experience of all believers. He states
that by one Spirit we all are baptized into one body, and all were made
to drink of one Spirit. Paul emphasizes unity. The word all is crucial.
Paul connects the initiation of all believers into the body of Christ with
the baptism of the Spirit.
What has been your own experience in being baptized by the

Holy Spirit? What has He meant for your life? What would you
be like without the Holy Spirit working in your life?

58
M onday January 30
Being Filled With the Holy Spirit

Read Ephesians 5:18, Acts 13:52, and Romans 8:9. What does it mean
to be filled with the Holy Spirit? How does being filled with the
Spirit happen in our lives?

Once we are baptized and belong to Christ, we should live in the
power of the Spirit. For this to happen we have to be filled with the
Spirit. There are numerous references in the New Testament where
people are filled with the Spirit (Luke 1:41, 67; Acts 2:4; 4:8, 31;
9:17; 13:9). The apostle Paul uses the word filling to say that a person
has submitted completely to God and is open to the guiding influence
of the Holy Spirit so that God’s own work can be accomplished in the
person’s life.
If we yield to the influence of alcohol, our walk, talk, and thoughts
will be affected negatively. When we are filled with the Holy Spirit, we
yield every part of our life to His transforming influence with the result
that our walk, talk, and thoughts will reflect Jesus.
While the Spirit is given by the hearing of faith (Gal. 3:2) and is
received through faith (Gal. 3:14) at our baptism (Titus 3:5, 6), we
need to seek the infilling of the Holy Spirit every day. We can’t live
off a powerful experience that we had last year or last month or even
yesterday. We need the infilling of God’s Spirit each day, for each day
brings its own challenges.
In the Greek of Acts 13:52, the term filled with the Spirit is in the
imperfect tense, signifying continuous action. It literally means: “being
[continuously] filled.” Being filled with the Spirit is not a one-time
event. It is something that we should seek and receive every day. This
filling has to be repeated so that every part of our lives is filled with His
presence, and so we are empowered to live as we should.
Being filled with the Holy Spirit does not so much mean that we possess
more of Him but that He possesses more of us. Only when we commit all
aspects of our life to the Spirit every day can He use us to God’s glory.
“I wish to impress upon you the fact that those who have Jesus abid-
ing in the heart by faith, have actually received the Holy Spirit. Every
individual who receives Jesus as his personal Saviour, just as surely
receives the Holy Spirit to be his Counselor, Sanctifier, Guide, and
Witness.”—Ellen G. White, Manuscript Releases, vol. 14, p. 71.
59
T uesday January 31
Conditions: Part 1
God’s Word points to certain conditions needed for the Spirit to abide
in us. We will look at some important ones during the next two days.
Read Acts 2:37, 38. What is the first condition for receiving the Holy
Spirit?

One condition for receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit is repentance.
Hearing the Word of God arouses our conscience and can lead us to an
awareness of our true sinfulness and lost condition. True repentance is
more than just feeling sorry for the dire consequences of our sins. It
is a thorough change of heart and mind so that we see sin for what it
really is: an ugly evil and rebellion against God. The only way that we
can experience true repentance is to be touched by the love of God:
“Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and forbearance
and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repen-
tance?” (Rom. 2:4, NASB).
Read Galatians 3:14 and James 1:6–8. Why can’t we receive the Holy
Spirit without trusting God’s Word?

Jesus has promised to send the Spirit as His representative. In faith
we receive the promised gift. But if we doubt God’s promise and do not
trust His Word, we are like a double-minded person and cannot expect
to receive anything from God. Faith is more than intellectual assent. It
is putting our lives on the line, trusting that God will keep His Word
and not let us down, regardless of what happens.
Read Luke 11:8–10, 13. Why does persistent intercession make a dif-
ference?

God is not reluctant to give us the Spirit. God is good and benevolent,
more than we can be even to our own children. Our persistent interces-
sion does not change His mind. Our prayer changes us and brings us
into God’s presence. Prayer doesn’t bring God down to us but brings
us up to Him. Our prayers simply reveal our determination, and they
prepare us for the gift.
How can we learn to be more fervent, diligent, and self-

surrendering in our own prayer lives? Why is it important that
we do learn these things?
60
W ednesday February 1
Conditions: Part 2
Read Acts 5:32. Why is obedience to God’s Word an important condi-
tion for receiving the Holy Spirit?

Then, as now, the Holy Spirit is granted to all who obey God. In the
Bible, love and obedience go hand in hand, and true faith is expressed
in obedience. If we trust God with all our hearts, we will obey His com-
mandments. Jesus said: “ ‘If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word’ ”
(John 14:23, NASB). Obedience is a choice leading to a lifestyle that
follows God’s will as expressed in His law. We must continue in obe-
dience if we want to acknowledge Jesus as our Lord (Luke 6:46). In
1 John 2:4, 5 we are told that “the one who says, ‘I have come to know
Him,’ and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is
not in him; but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has
truly been perfected” (NASB). Those are strong words. From John we
also know that “the one who keeps His commandments abides in Him,
and He in him. We know by this that He abides in us, by the Spirit
whom He has given us” (1 John 3:24, NASB). When we do what God
has commanded, we will have peace of mind.
Read Jude 18–21. Why do we need to avoid all impurity if we want to

be filled with the Spirit?

The fire of the Holy Spirit cannot keep burning in our lives when we are
worldly minded. The Holy Spirit reacts very sensitively to the existence of
all sin and worldliness in our lives. Therefore we need to keep ourselves in
the love of God and be connected with God through prayer so that we will
shun all impurity and display a spirit of power, love, and discipline (2 Tim.
1:6, 7). Only through a close and fierce battle with self can we become the
kind of people we should be. Of course, we can’t do it ourselves; the battle
comes down to our choice of either surrendering our wills to the prompting
of the Holy Spirit or allowing the flesh to dominate. The choice is ours.
“There is no limit to the usefulness of one who, by putting self

aside, makes room for the working of the Holy Spirit upon his
heart, and lives a life wholly consecrated to God.”—Ellen G.
White, The Desire of Ages, pp. 250, 251. How can you apply these
words to your own spiritual life?
61
T hursday February 2
Self-Centered Living Versus Christ-

Centered Living
Read Galatians 5:16–26 and compare it with Ephesians 5:1–9, 17–20.
List the differences between a self-centered life and a life that is
filled with the Spirit.
The life of a person who does not live in the Spirit is radically dif-
ferent from the life and values of a person who is filled with the Spirit.
Self-Centered Person Spirit-Controlled Person
Desires what is sinful and dis- Desires what is spiritual and pleas-
pleasing to God ing to God
Is controlled by sinful passions Is controlled by the Spirit
Misuses his/her freedom and gets Is set free from the bondage of sin
enslaved in sin and is called to freedom in Christ
Is disobedient to God’s will Is obedient to God’s will
Is self-indulgent Is self-sacrificing
Displays the fruit of sin Displays the fruit of the Spirit
Does not recognize the need for Recognizes the need for forgive-
forgiveness and is boastful of self ness and praises Jesus for what He
has done
The life of a person who is filled with God’s Spirit is characterized by
a loving obedience to God’s law and a gentle spirit of compassion for
others (see 2 Cor. 5:14, NASB). Having been renewed in our minds and
thinking and having received new hearts and a new outlook on life, our
values and behavior will change. We want to live no longer in our own
strength but in submission to the Holy Spirit (Gal. 3:3).
We cannot transform ourselves. We possess no real power to change
ourselves, for sin is too deeply ingrained in us. The renewing energy
must come from God. The change from within can be successful only
through the transforming work of the Holy Spirit. No mere external
change, such as correcting this or that bad habit, makes us Christians.
The change has to come from a heart renewed by the Holy Spirit.
This is the work of a lifetime, a work that will have its up and downs,
but a work that God promises to do in us if we surrender to Him, “being
confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you
will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Phil. 1:6, NKJV).
In what areas of your life do you see the selfish, self-centered part
come through, and in what parts do you see a life that reflects the
working of the Holy Spirit in you? What does your answer tell
you about yourself and the choices you need to make?
62
F riday February 3
Further Thought: It is only natural for a person to seek control of

one’s life. We normally depend on our own efforts to achieve all that we
can. While many people spend their lives in a quest for control, others have
an unhealthy fear of losing control. This human dilemma finds an answer
only in God. He wants you to give Him, Your Creator and Redeemer,
full control. He knows and loves you as nobody else can. This opens the
door for Him to work in your life. By choosing to submit your will to the
leading of God’s Holy Spirit, you will have His supernatural peace and
boundless opportunities to be a blessing to others. But we need the desire
for this power in our lives. God doesn’t force Himself on any of us. To be
moral beings, we need to be free beings. And to be truly free in Christ, we
need a sense of abandonment (that of wanting to abandon our old sinful
and fallen ways) and a sense of abiding (that of abiding in the power of
the Holy Spirit). To be truly free, we must be truly surrendered to the con-
trol of the Holy Spirit. But there is no contradiction here. Our freedom is
found in liberation from the condemnation and power of sin, which always
enslaves us and always leads to death. Instead, by surrendering to the Lord
and making way for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, not only are we no
longer condemned (see Rom. 8:1), but we live a life where we “do not walk
according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit” (NKJV). That’s the only
true freedom that we, as sinful and fallen beings, can ever know.
 Some people think that freedom consists of being able to do
what you want, when you want, and how you want to do it. What’s
wrong with that concept from a Christian perspective? What is
the biblical idea of true freedom? See Ps. 119:45, Luke 4:18, John
8:34–36, 2 Cor. 3:17, and Gal. 5:1.
 Why is it important to put self aside and consecrate our lives

wholly to God before the Holy Spirit can work mightily through
us? What could God do in you that would make you more of a
blessing to others if you put self aside and opened your heart to
the workings of the Holy Spirit in you?
 “The Christian’s life is not a modification or improvement of

the old, but a transformation of nature. There is a death to self and
sin, and a new life altogether. This change can be brought about
only by the effectual working of the Holy Spirit.”—Ellen G. White,
The Desire of Ages, p. 172. Discuss in class the implications of these
words.
 Compare the evidence of a self-centered life with a life that is

Spirit-filled (see chart in Thursday’s study). Discuss with the mem-
bers of your Sabbath School group what the greatest blessing of a
Spirit-filled life could be for us.
63
i n s i d e
Story
“Lord, I Can’t Find You.
Please Find Me”: Part 1
Hannele tore open her cousin’s letter and began reading. “I’ve given my
life to Jesus,” her cousin wrote. What does that mean? Hannele wondered.
Hannele had sometimes attended Sunday School, but she’d never heard of
someone giving his or her life to Jesus.
Hannele longed for a similar experience with God but wasn’t sure
how to have it. She attended several different churches and joined youth
activities, but she didn’t find what her cousin had described. Hannele
bought a Bible and read it through; she did things that she thought
Christians did, but still she felt spiritually hungry.
After finishing her university schooling, Hannele moved to Helsinki,
Finland’s capital city. There she met her future husband. Hannele invited
him to attend church with her, hoping that he would find God and then
show her how to find Him too. But that didn’t work.
The couple had children, and life became busy. Hannele had every-
thing she wanted—except God. As she continued visiting churches, she
prayed, “Lord, I can’t find You. Please find me.”
Hannele’s teenage daughter decided to study in Australia for a year.
Worried, Hannele prayed that her daughter would find a good family
to live with—and she did. “They were wonderful!” Hannele said later.
“Greg, the father, helped us set up our computer, so we could instant
message one another. As we chatted, I got to know Greg and told him of
my search for God. He told me that he had drifted away from his child-
hood church, but he suggested that I read his favorite book, The Desire
of Ages. I found the book on the Internet and read it. It changed my life!
I read it again, this time comparing it with my Bible. At last, I sensed
that I was finding answers to my questions and a closer walk with God.”
Greg’s father was a former missionary who answered Hannele’s ques-
tions about God. He told her that he was a Seventh-day Adventist, but
she had never heard of such a group. He explained that Adventists keep
the Bible Sabbath and look forward to Jesus’ return. Hannele’s husband
looked the church up on the Internet, and Hannele was reassured by
what she read.
Greg told Hannele about an Adventist television station available on
the Internet. She watched several programs and rejoiced to find that her
life was changing for the better.

teachers comments
The Lesson in Brief

Key Text: Matthew 3:11
The Student Will:

Know: Understand the meaning of the baptism of the Holy Spirit in Scripture,
and grasp the practical importance of this biblical teaching in his or her life.
He or she also will discover the prerequisites for receiving the fullness of the
Holy Spirit today.
Feel: Foster a deeper desire to be filled daily with the Holy Spirit and to
live with a sense of the presence and guidance of the Spirit.
Do: Seek consciously the daily baptism of the Holy Spirit through thought-
ful study of God’s Word.
Learning Outline:
I. Know: The Meaning and Significance of Being Baptized by the Holy Spirit
A Why is the baptism of the Holy Spirit so significant in the life of each
believer?
B What practical difference does the baptism of the Holy Spirit make in
each one of our lives?
C Why can’t you be a committed Christian without the baptism of the
Holy Spirit?
II. Feel: The Poverty of the Soul Without the Baptism of the Holy Spirit
A How can our feelings of weakness and inadequacy actually drive us to
seek the infilling of the Holy Spirit?
B Why is the lack of knowledge regarding the baptism and infilling of
the Holy Spirit so detrimental to our spiritual lives?
III. Do: The Joy and Strength of Living in the Power of the Spirit
A Why is living in the power of the Holy Spirit so challenging on a daily
basis?
B What are some practical things we can do to prepare our hearts for the
infilling of the Holy Spirit?
Summary: The right understanding of the baptism of the Holy Spirit leads us to
sense the abject poverty of the soul without the fullness of the Holy Spirit.
As we follow the practical, biblical steps to be filled with the Holy Spirit,
we receive strength and joy.
65
teachers comments
Learning Cycle
STEP 1—Motivate
Spotlight on Scripture: Matthew 3:11

Key Concept for Spiritual Growth: God longs to fill His people
with His Holy Spirit, even if they may not fully understand the sig-
nificance of the infilling and may not clearly grasp the steps of how to
be filled with the Holy Spirit. The loving heart of Christ desires that
we have all the benefits that Heaven offers in overcoming the wiles
of the evil one and in living the most abundant lives possible. God is
doing everything possible to enable us to be overcomers in the battle
with evil.
Just for Teachers: This week’s lesson should help members of your
class to be aware that the baptism of the Holy Spirit is not for a select
few or a small group of spiritually elite Christians. The baptism or
infilling of the Holy Spirit is for all believers in every generation.
When we become insensitive to the infilling of the Holy Spirit, we live
the Christian life in our own strength, powerless to overcome tempta-
tion. We live in frustrated defeat rather than in joyous victory. Our
decisions are based on human wisdom rather than divine guidance.
We are caught in the grip of seemingly unbreakable habits rather
than enjoying the freedom that the Spirit of Christ brings.
Opening Discussion: Pastor Mark Finley, a Seventh-day Adventist evan-
gelist, conducted a series of evangelistic meetings on the East Coast of
America, in the state of Massachusetts. After one of the meetings, a young
man in his late twenties approached Pastor Finley with a strange, concerned
look on his face. He asked, “Can we talk privately? I have a very important
question to ask you.”
Pastor Finley invited the young man to be seated in a quiet corner of
the auditorium for their discussion. The young man launched immediately
into his concerns. Anxiously, he blurted out the questions, “How do I
know if I have committed the unpardonable sin? Why do I feel so spiri-
tually empty? Is this emptiness a sign that the Holy Spirit has left me?”
Pastor Finley patiently answered the questions one by one until this young
man had new assurance in Christ and a sense of the daily presence of the
Holy Spirit in his life.
Here is the fundamental question: What is the difference between
the unpardonable sin and the baptism of the Holy Spirit? They are two
polarities on opposite sides of the Holy Spirit spectrum. Additionally,
what is the baptism of the Holy Spirit? How is one literally “filled” with
66
teachers comments
the Spirit? Why is the infilling of the Holy Spirit not simply an emotional
experience? What kind of experience is it?
STEP 2—Explore
Just for Teachers: The major themes of today’s lesson are (1) the
baptism of the Holy Spirit, (2) the prerequisites to receiving the Holy
Spirit, and (3) the difference the infilling of the Holy Spirit makes in
the life of each believer. Under the larger umbrella of these themes,
this commentary section will attempt to explore answers to the follow-
ing questions: What is the baptism of the Holy Spirit? And what does
John the Baptist mean when he points his hearers forward to Jesus,
who would baptize them with “ ‘the Holy Spirit and fire’ ” (Matt. 3:11,
NKJV)? Notice the Bible says, “and fire” not “or fire.” What does that
distinction mean?
As your students explore the answers to these questions, it is impor-
tant that they bear in mind that there are at least three prime ways
that help in understanding a Bible passage:
First, urge class members to read the context of the passage. What
comes before the text they are considering, and what comes after?
Second, how are the words and concepts of this passage used in
other places in the Bible?
And third, what is the meaning of the words in the passage they
are studying? (At times, it is helpful to look at the original language
of the text. A good Bible commentary or dictionary can be useful
here.)
Throughout the lesson, be sure to emphasize to your students that
the baptism of the Holy Spirit is for all believers. Share the truth that
baptism is immersion and that each one of us can be immersed daily
in the presence of God through the ministry of the Holy Spirit. As we
saturate our minds with the Word, we are filled with the Holy Spirit.
The same Holy Spirit that inspired the Bible fills and transforms our
lives as we read it.
Bible Commentary
I. Baptism of the Holy Spirit (Review Matthew 3:11 with the class.)
Throughout the Bible, fire is used as a symbol of the presence of God.

In Genesis 3:24, the presence of God guarding the tree of life is sym-
bolized by a flaming sword. In Exodus, God’s presence is manifest in a
burning bush (Exod. 3:2–4). It also is revealed in the pillar of fire that
guides Israel by night (Exod. 13:21). God makes Himself manifest in
the “consuming fire” on Mount Sinai (Exod. 24:17). He reveals Himself
67
teachers comments
in the Shekinah glory in the Most Holy Place in Israel’s sanctuary (Exod.
25:8, 21, 22; 40:34–38). He is there in the fire that consumes the heathen
altar on Mount Carmel, in the burning coal off heaven’s altar that touches
Isaiah’s lips, and in the refining fire of Malachi (1 Kings 18:38; Isa. 6:6–8;
Mal. 3:2, 3; 4:1).
As we can see throughout the Old Testament, God’s presence is revealed
in the imagery of flaming fire. It is, therefore, no accident that in Acts 2 the
presence of the Holy Spirit is revealed in tongues of fire. Throughout the
New Testament, fire is a unique biblical symbol that represents the glory,
majesty, and power of God’s eternal presence through the ministry of the
Holy Spirit.
Baptism in Scripture is neither sprinkling nor pouring. It is immersion.
To be baptized in the Holy Spirit is to be immersed in the presence of God.
It is to be filled with His grace and to radiate His glory. It is to reveal to
a waiting world and a watching universe the greatness of His power in our
lives. It is to live in harmony with His will, to be committed to His ways,
and to be surrendered to His purpose. Empowered by the Spirit, our lives
are changed, and we are witnesses of His grace. When we are immersed in
a water baptism as a testimony of our total commitment to Christ and His
truth, we are also baptized by the Holy Spirit and experience the infilling
of the Holy Spirit.
Consider This: Give examples from the Old and New Testaments of how fire is
used to symbolize the presence of God.
n What does baptism mean? Define “immersion.” What does it mean to be

baptized, or immersed, in the presence of God?
STEP 3—Apply
Just for Teachers: The biblical conditions given in Scripture for the
reception of the Holy Spirit are given not because God desires to hold
back His Spirit from us but because He desires us to receive Him in His
fullness. It is not that God is hesitant to give the Spirit; it is rather that
we are incapable of receiving the Holy Spirit in His fullness without
meeting the conditions.
Thought Questions:
 God longs to fill us with His Holy Spirit and radically transform our lives
more than we can ever imagine. His desire is that we live lives of victory,
reflecting His goodness and proclaiming His love and power. What does the
baptism of the Holy Spirit mean to you personally?
68
teachers comments
 How has the Holy Spirit made a difference in your life?

 What are some practical principles in receiving the fullness of the Holy
Spirit each day?
Life Application Questions: Take each of the following conditions

for the reception of the Holy Spirit individually, and discuss them with
your class:
 Why is repentance a prerequisite to receiving the Holy Spirit?
 What role does trusting God’s Word play in receiving the Holy Spirit?
 How does obedience play a role in the reception of the Holy Spirit?
 Why do you think God would not pour out His Holy Spirit on those who
knowingly are disobedient to His will?
 Why does impurity hinder the working of the Holy Spirit?
Activity: Ask members of your class to share Bible passages that are the
most meaningful to them about the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
STEP 4—Create
Just for Teachers: The essence of all Christian faith is Christ-centered

living. If our faith does not make a difference in our daily lives, it does
not make much difference at all. For faith to be genuine and authentic,
it must make a difference in every aspect of our lives. This transforma-
tion is one of the reasons for the Holy Spirit. When we are filled with the
Holy Spirit, our lives are changed and the people around us take notice.
Activities:
 What is the difference between the self-centered person and the
Spirit-controlled person?
 Read Galatians 5:16–26 meditatively, and ask God to reveal any area in
your life that is not in complete harmony with His will. Spend a moment
reflecting on what the Holy Spirit brings to your mind.
 Surrender that area to Him and claim the promise of the Holy Spirit for
victory.
69
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L esson 6 *February 4–10
The Holy Spirit and Living a

Holy Life
Sabbath Afternoon
Read for This Week’s Study: 1 Pet. 1:14–16; Isa. 6:3; Heb.
12:14; 1 Cor. 6:11; 1 Tim. 1:8; Ps. 15:1, 2.
Memory Text: “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you
entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved
complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ”
(1 Thessalonians 5:23, NASB).
I
t’s easy to become insensitive to the holiness of God and not to
think much about God’s revealed hatred of sin and evil.
Holiness, however, is a crucial theme in the Bible. The pursuit of
holiness, to become loving and pure like Jesus, should be a priority for
every Christian. We are rightly appalled by the “I-am-holier-than-you”
attitude. But, at the same time, we can easily forget what it means to
live a pure and sanctified life.
God’s love and His holiness inseparably belong together. Without
God’s holiness, His love would be in danger of sentimentalism; with-
out His love, God’s holiness would be stern and unapproachable. Both
attributes, His love and His holiness, are foundational to His nature.
The Holy Spirit is intricately connected with our pursuit of holiness.
After all, His name is Holy Spirit, and He is called “the Spirit of holi-
ness” (Rom. 1:4, NASB). His name reminds us that God is holy and
that it is God’s great desire to make sinners into the image of His own
holiness.
This week we will take a closer look at what it means to be holy and
to live a holy life.
72
S unday February 5
The Holiness of God

Read 1 Peter 1:14–16. Why is the ultimate motivation for holiness just
the reality of God Himself? What motivates you to live a holy life?
What does it mean that God is holy?

It’s popular to emphasize God’s love while ignoring His holiness.
While God is love, the idea of holiness is connected more often with
the name of God in the Bible than is any other attribute (Ps. 89:18, Isa.
40:25, Jer. 51:5, Ezek. 39:7, Rev. 4:8). Holiness describes the purity
and moral perfection of His nature. God’s holiness means that He is
perfectly good and completely free from evil. God’s holiness is the
perfection of all His other attributes.
If God possessed omnipotence (infinite power), omniscience (perfect
and complete knowledge), and omnipresence (everywhere present) but
did not have perfect holiness, He would be a power of whom we would
rightly be terrified. Instead, He is the God whom we should love.
His power is holy power. His mercy is holy mercy. His wisdom is
holy wisdom, and His love is holy love. In this sense holiness is the
most intimately divine word of all because it has to do with the very
nature of God. To deny the purity of God’s holy being is, perhaps, worse
than denying His existence. The latter makes Him nonexistent; the for-
mer an unlovely, even detestable god.
God’s holiness means that He is separated from sin and entirely
devoted to seeking the good that He represents in Himself. In other
words, holiness denotes a relational quality, as well as a moral quality. It
encompasses separation from sin and complete devotion to God’s glory.
In Isaiah 6:3 and Revelation 4:8, God is described as “Holy, holy,
holy.” When the biblical writers wanted to emphasize something that
was important, they repeated the word in order to draw our attention
to what was said. Jesus draws our attention to important statements by
repeating the words “truly, truly” (John 5:24, 6:47, etc.) or “Jerusalem,
Jerusalem” (Matt. 23:37) or by calling a name like “Martha, Martha”
(Luke 10:41). Of all His attributes, only God’s holiness is mentioned
three times in a row. This indicates something of highest importance.
God’s nature is indeed holy. He is pure and good.
How scared would you be, and rightly so, if our all-powerful God
and Creator were not holy and loving? What does your answer
tell you about why we should be so thankful that God is as He is?

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M onday February 6
The Nature of Holiness

“The closer you come to Jesus, the more faulty you will appear in your
own eyes; for your vision will be clearer, and your imperfections will be
seen in broad and distinct contrast to His perfect nature. This is evidence
that Satan’s delusions have lost their power; that the vivifying influence
of the Spirit of God is arousing you.”—Ellen G. White, Steps to Christ,
pp. 64, 65.
Read Ephesians 1:4, 5:25–27, and Hebrews 12:14. What is God’s pur-
pose for all of His people and for the church?

Holiness is both God’s gift and His command. Hence, we should pray for
it and seek to manifest it daily. Holiness is the fruit of the Spirit displayed
in our lives as we walk by the Spirit with Christ every day (Gal. 5:16, 22,
25). Holiness, in one word, is Christlikeness. It means belonging to Jesus
and living as His child in loving obedience and commitment, being more
and more conformed into His likeness. The basic meaning associated with
the concept of holiness signifies a state of being separated, being set aside
for a special service for God. On the other hand, holiness also signifies an
intrinsic moral and spiritual quality; namely, that of being righteous and
pure before God. Both aspects need to be kept together.
In the New Testament, believers are called holy because of their
unique relationships to Jesus that set them apart for a special purpose.
Being holy does not make them ethically perfect and sinless, but it
changes them so that they can start to live a pure and holy lifestyle
(compare with 1 Corinthians 1:2, where Paul calls the Corinthians holy
ones or saints, even though they are not sinless and perfect). Believers
are admonished to pursue holiness, without which no one will see the
Lord (Heb. 12:14). God’s acceptance of each believer is perfect from
the beginning; yet, our growth in sanctification is a lifelong process and
always needs to be extended further so that we become more and more
transformed into the unblemished image of Him who has saved us.
There is a tension between being holy and yet having to pursue

holiness. How will our pursuit of holiness be different if we know
that we already belong to God and that we are accepted in Him
because of the sacrifice of Jesus in our behalf?

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T uesday February 7
The Agent of Sanctification

What do 1 Corinthians 6:11, Titus 3:5, and Hebrews 13:12 tell us about
sanctification?

Our sanctification is accomplished by faith (Heb. 11:6) through the
power of the Holy Spirit (2 Thess. 2:13, 1 Pet. 1:2). The apostle Paul
writes: “but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were
justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our
God” (1 Cor. 6:11, NASB). Jesus produces in us lifelong growth in holi-
ness, bringing forth the fruit of the Spirit within us. Our being changed
into His likeness “comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit” (2 Cor. 3:18,
NIV).
Read Galatians 5:16, 17. What does Paul tell us in these verses?

There is a battle going on in every believer. The tension we all face
stems from the fact that sin dwells in us (Rom. 7:20). The apostle Paul
knew about this battle when he declared toward the end of his life: “I
do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do:
forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead,
I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in
Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:13, 14, NASB).
Read Hebrews 12:1, 2. What is the fight of faith that we are to wage
against sin?

The battle we are called to fight is to fix “our eyes on Jesus, the
author and perfecter of faith” (Heb. 12:2, NASB). Too often we are
self-centered in our religion. We focus too much on our victories and
on our defeats rather than on God, who alone can give us victory over
sin. When the Holy Spirit helps us to look unto Jesus, we will have no
desire for sin, and everything that so easily entangles us will be put
aside (Heb. 12:1). But when we focus on our sins and shortcomings,
we look at ourselves and not to Jesus. This leads to easy defeat because,
by beholding our failures, we can get discouraged so easily. However,
by beholding Jesus, we will be encouraged and can live victoriously.
If someone were to ask you, “How do I get the victory over sin
that is promised to me in the Bible?” what would you answer, and
why? Bring your response to class on Sabbath.
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The Rule of Holiness Is God’s Law

We know that God calls us to keep His law. The question arises,
though, why should we keep His law if we cannot be saved by it? The
answer is found in the idea of holiness.
Read Romans 7:12 and 1 Timothy 1:8. What attributes does Paul use
to describe the law? How does the law reflect the character of God?

The law is holy, righteous, and good. These three attributes properly
designate only God Himself. Thus, the law is an expression of God’s
character.
To live a spirit-filled life means that we live according to the law
of God. The law is the unchanging rule of His holiness. The standard
that the law sets does not change any more than does God Himself.
Jesus affirmed that the law is not abolished, but that every part is to be
fulfilled (Matt. 5:17–19). To keep the law is not legalism; it is faithful-
ness. The law does not save us. It never can. The law is never our way
to salvation. Rather, it is the path of the saved. The law, so to speak, is
the pair of shoes in which our love walks and expresses itself. This is
why Jesus could say in a most remarkable manner that when “ ‘lawless-
ness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold’ ” (Matt. 24:12,
ESV). Love diminishes when the law is not appreciated.
Read Romans 13:10 and Matthew 22:37–40. Why is love the fulfill-
ment of the law?

While the rule and norm for holiness is God’s law, the heart of His
holiness is love. Love is the response to God’s saving acts and is mani-
fested in faithfulness. You cannot be a good disciple of Jesus without
being a conscientious and loving law keeper. While it is possible to
keep the letter of the law without love, it is not possible to exhibit true
love without keeping the law. True love desires to be faithful. Love does
not abolish the law. It fulfills it.
Why is the law an expression of God’s love for us? How are love
and obedience related?

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Pursuing Holiness
Read Psalm 15:1, 2; Ephesians 4:22–24; and 2 Timothy 2:21. What do
they tell us about holiness?

Holiness is the precondition for enjoying the happiness of fellowship
with God. It is the precondition for our usefulness to God. We know
the truth of the saying: “Sow an action, reap a habit; sow a habit, reap
a character.” And, we might add, “Character is destiny.” The only thing
we will take with us to heaven will be our characters.
Developing new habits and new characters, however, is not self-
sanctification by self-effort. Habit forming is the ordinary way that
the Spirit leads us in holiness. Habits are all important in our Christian
walk, especially those habits that grow in connection with such biblical
virtues as patience, love, faithfulness, kindness, goodness, gentleness,
and self-control.
When the Holy Spirit has filled our hearts, we will no doubt be
active for God. But too often we forget that it is God who sanctifies us
and who will finish the good work that He has begun in us (Phil. 1:6).
Sometimes we are so busy doing all kinds of things for God that we
forget to enjoy time with Him in prayer. When we are too busy to pray,
we really are too busy to be Christians.
Perhaps our knowledge and success have made us so self-reliant and
self-confident that we take for granted our skills and fine programs and,
thus, forget that apart from Christ and without the Holy Spirit we can
accomplish nothing.
Activism is not holiness. There will be people who think that they
have done great works for the Lord, and yet they really were not follow-
ing Him at all. “Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we
not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done
many wonders in Your name?’ ” (see Matt. 7:22, 23, NKJV). There is
a big difference between being called by God and being driven to do
something for God. If we have not first taken the quiet time to hear the
call of God, we stand in danger of being self-driven to do whatever we
do. But there will be no strength, no power, no peace, and no lasting
blessing associated with our work if it does not spring out of a divine
calling. Our greatest need in our personal holiness is quality time with
God when we hear His voice and receive new strength from His Word
as led by the Holy Spirit. This will give our work distinct credibility
and convincing power.
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F riday February 10
Further Thought: Read Ellen G. White, “Like Unto Leaven,”

pp. 95–102, in Christ’s Object Lessons.
How do we even begin to grasp the holiness of God when our nature
is fallen and corrupt and His is uncompromisingly holy? His holiness
defines Him as singular and separated from the world of sin and death
that we humans experience. Yet, here is the most amazing thing: God
offers us the opportunity to participate in His holiness. That’s part of
what a covenant relationship with Him is about. “ ‘Speak to all the
congregation of the children of Israel, and say to them: “You shall be
holy, for I the Lord your God am holy” ’ ” (Lev. 19:2, NKJV). Or, as the
book of Hebrews says: “ ‘Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord,
when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the
house of Judah. . . . For this is the covenant that I will make with the
house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws in
their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and
they shall be My people’ ”(Heb. 8:8–10, NKJV). In these texts we can
see the connection between holiness, covenant, and law. We cannot be
holy apart from obeying God’s law, and we obey His law only as He
Himself, the Holy Spirit, writes His law in our hearts and minds. What
a sacred privilege is ours: “that we may be partakers of His holiness”
(Heb. 12:10, NKJV), which we express by loving obedience to His law.
 In class, go over your answers to the question at the end of
Tuesday’s study about what you would tell someone who asked
how to have the promises of victory over sin realized in their own
lives. What would you tell them?
 What does it mean to have God’s law written in our hearts and
minds? Why is this different from having it written only on tablets
of stone?
 When you think of God’s holiness, what do you think of? Go

around the class and let each person talk about what he or she
envisions God’s holiness to be like. What does Jesus reveal to us
about God’s holiness?
 What is the foundation for our holiness? How is holiness

achieved?
 Earlier in the week, Wednesday’s study stated: “The law does

not save us. It never can. The law is never our way to salvation.
Rather, it is the path of the saved.” How does this sentiment help
us understand what the role of the law should be for sanctified
Christians in whom the Holy Spirit is working?
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i n s i d e
Story
“Lord, I Can’t Find You. Please
Find Me”: Part 2
Greg invited Hannele to visit an Adventist church. She hesitated because
she had been disappointed so often, but eventually she agreed to go. She didn’t
expect much; but when she arrived at the church, she was overwhelmed by
the warmth and friendliness of the people. She was amazed to hear the deep
Bible discussion. “These people knew so much about the Bible! I loved the
sermon too,” Hannele later recalled. “I returned the following week.”
At first, Hannele struggled with attending church on Saturday until
she understood the preciousness of the Sabbath. Several other aspects
of the Adventist faith puzzled her as well, but Greg helped her to find
answers to her questions, and she continued attending the church.
“I fell in love with Jesus, just as my cousin had done so many years ear-
lier,” said Hannele. “That summer I visited the church’s Bible camp, where
I studied the Bible deeply with fellow seekers and came away spiritually
refreshed. During breaks, I sat by the lake and prayed for my husband.”
Hannele returned home from camp rejoicing. As usual, she shared
her love for God with her husband, but this time she felt compelled to
urge him to make a decision for Jesus. She didn’t know it then, but that
was their last conversation about religion. Two days later he died in an
automobile accident.
“I couldn’t understand why God would take away my husband so soon
after I had given my life to the Lord,” she said. “Now I understand that
God gave me a church family to support me and pray with me during
those difficult days. The Bible texts I had memorized gave me peace,
and the Holy Spirit comforted me.”
Hannele went to work for the church’s Bible correspondence school,
where she helps others who are struggling with some of the same issues
she had. Eventually, Hannele met a good man at church, and the two
married. “God has given us a ministry together,” she says.
As for Greg in Australia, he returned to the Lord as well. God surely
works in mysterious ways!
In 2010, a portion of your Thirteenth Sabbath Offering provided funds
to help build a bigger place of worship for an Adventist group who were
meeting in a school in Nummela, Finland. Thank you for your generos-
ity in helping your brothers and sisters around the world through the
Thirteenth Sabbath Offering!
For more mission stories from the Trans-European Division, visit www
.adventistmission.org/mission-quarterlies or download the Adventist
Mission app.

teachers comments
The Lesson in Brief

Key Text: 1 Peter 1:14–16
The Student Will:

Know: Recognize anew, and more deeply appreciate, the Holy Spirit’s appeal
in Scripture for holiness.
Feel: Foster an increasing desire for holiness and godly living.
Do: Resolve by the power of the Holy Spirit to live a life of holiness.
Learning Outline:
I. Know: Holiness Is the Essence of Who God Is and the Heart of What It
Means to Be a Christian.
A Why is it so popular today to emphasize God’s love while at times
ignoring His holiness?
B What difference would it make if God were all-powerful and all-
knowing but not holy?
C How does God’s holiness relate to His love? What difference does this
relation make in His relationship to us?
II. Feel: The Joy of Pursuing Holiness Through the Power of the Holy Spirit
A Is holiness a destination we achieve or a journey we are on as
Christians? Explain.
B Why should the pursuit of holiness—to become loving and pure like
Jesus—be the pursuit of every Christian?
III. Do: Determine by the Grace of God to Seek Holiness Through Prayer, the
Study of the Word, and Christian Meditation.
A Compare the biblical expressions “walking in the Spirit” and “fighting
the good fight of faith.” How are these statements similar, and how can
you implement them in your life?
B How can we develop new habits when old habits seem so deeply
entrenched?
Summary: The pursuit of holiness is the calling of every Christian. When we

seek holiness, we are seeking God Himself, who is holy. It is the Holy
Spirit, the divine Helper, who comes to our aid to strengthen us in our
pursuit of the holiness that is the very essence of the character of God.
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teachers comments
Learning Cycle
STEP 1—Motivate
Spotlight on Scripture: Ephesians 1:3–6
Key Concept for Spiritual Growth: God chose us before the foun-
dation of the world. In Christ, He blessed us with every spiritual
blessing so that we may reflect the grace of His character and seek
His holiness. Holiness is not a state of perfection that we struggle to
achieve. It is continually becoming more like Jesus, a state achieved
daily through the power of the Holy Spirit as we fellowship with God
in prayer and through His Word. Holiness is the result of beholding
the beauty of Christ’s character.
Just for Teachers: God’s holiness consists largely of two major elements.
First, it includes His righteous, pure character that is intrinsically
part of His nature. God cannot act contrary to His own nature; so,
His actions are always righteous, pure, and just. Second, God’s holi-
ness sets Him apart from all created beings. His love, graciousness,
goodness, justice, and compassion are infinite. There is no one else
like Him in the entire universe (Lev. 19:2; Ps. 47:8; 1 Pet. 1:15, 16).
Meditating upon God’s holiness leads us to reflect His holiness in
our own lives (2 Cor. 3:18). Ellen G. White states clearly, “It is a law
of the mind that it gradually adapts itself to the subjects upon which
it is trained to dwell.”—Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 596. The purpose
of this week’s lesson is twofold: to help class members to understand
the importance of pursuing a life of holiness and to encourage them
to develop that holiness in their own lives by beholding God’s holiness
in His Word.
Opening Discussion: When you think of God’s holiness, what comes

to your mind? If you had to draw a picture of a holy God, how would you
draw it? Are the images of a holy God in your mind positive or negative
images? Why? What emotions does the thought of God’s holiness evoke
in you?
For some people, the thought of a holy God instills reverence and awe.
For others, it instills fear and condemnation. There are those who equate
God’s holiness with His hatred of sin; and because they know that they
have sinned, they are overwhelmed with their own guilt in the light of
God’s holiness. In this week’s lesson, we will discover that love is at the
very foundation of God’s holiness and that His grace flows from His holi-
ness. A holy God is a just God. His justice is the very basis of a universe
free from the ravages of sin.
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teachers comments

 Why do you think it is popular to emphasize God’s love but neglect His
holiness?
 Is God’s holiness a gift or a command, or both? Why?
 What is the difference between holiness and perfection?
STEP 2—Explore
Just for Teachers: There is a tension in the life of each Christian.

This tension is between what we are and what we long to be. It is the
tension between the real and the ideal. As committed Christians, we
long to reflect the image of Jesus in all of our actions, but, at times, we
fall far short of our desires. The good news is that we are accepted in
Christ, redeemed by Christ, and justified by Christ. We receive salva-
tion through His sacrifice, not by achieving some state of superholiness
(Eph. 1:6, 7; 2:8; Rom. 5:8–10). In the context of His love and grace, we
seek to be like Him. His love motivates us to seek His holiness (2 Cor.
5:14, 15). We desire to be like Him because we have been redeemed by
His grace (1 John 3:1, 2).
Concentrate on this thought throughout this week’s lesson: we seek
holiness because we have been redeemed by His grace and long to
imitate His character. As Scripture says, “We love Him because He
first loved us” (1 John 4:19, NKJV).
Bible Commentary
I. Living a Holy Life (Review Hebrews 12:2 with the class.)
In Hebrews 11, God outlines His Hall of Fame of the faithful. Chapter 12
begins with these words: “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by
so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin
which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that
is set before us” (Heb. 12:1, NKJV). The metaphor of the “cloud of wit-
nesses” conveys the idea of an athlete competing in an ancient stadium
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teachers comments
with thousands of witnesses cheering him on. The apostle Paul here states that
the examples of past heroes of faith should encourage us as we race toward
the kingdom. Their examples also encourage us to pursue lives of holiness.
The “sin which so easily ensnares us” is simply a lack of faith that directs our
eyes from Christ’s righteousness and leads us to depend on our own. It is the
fatal flaw that focuses on human endeavors rather than on divine grace. It is
depending on our weakness rather than on Christ’s strength.
The apostle urges each believer to look to Jesus, the “author and finisher
of our faith” (Heb. 12:2). The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary puts
it this way: “To keep the eye of faith fixed upon Jesus is to maintain uninter-
rupted contact with Him who is the source of power, Him who can strengthen
us to endure and to overcome.”—Volume 7, p. 481. The word for “finisher” in
Hebrews 12:2 is the Greek word telei-ot-es, which means the one who com-
pletes, perfects, or finishes.
Jesus is both our Savior and Lord. He is the One who died for us and the
One who lives for us. He is the One who justifies and sanctifies us. He is the
One who began a good work in us and will finish it. Through the ministry
of the Holy Spirit, the Third Person of the Godhead, we “grow in grace,
and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Pet. 3:18). Through
Christ, we who are unholy are accepted as holy and through His grace made
holy.
Consider This: In Romans 7:12, the apostle Paul describes the law of
God as “holy, righteous and good” (NIV). Throughout the Bible, God also is
described as holy (Isa. 6:3), just (1 John 1:9), and good (Ps. 25:8). If these are
the characteristics of both God and the law, what does this equivalence tell you
about the very nature of the law? What relationship does living a Spirit-filled
life have with the law of God? Discuss this statement with your class: “You
can attempt to keep the law without love, but you cannot truly love without
keeping the law.”
STEP 3—Apply
Just for Teachers: In our feel-good, often self-centered society, the con-
cepts of self-denial, obedience, and holiness may seem unintelligible to most
people. Help your class understand that the very essence of the Christian life
is that believers, saved by grace and transformed by God’s love, naturally
seek holiness. When you admire someone, you strive to be like the one you
most admire. Christ’s love wins our hearts, and we long to be like Him in
character.
83 83
teachers comments
 How can we develop new habits and practices to guide us on our journey
to holiness?
 What are the things in our lives that distract us from living holy lives?
 Why does living a life of holiness seem so challenging at times?
STEP 4—Create
Just for Teachers: Pursuing holiness is really pursuing God and

desiring to be like Him in character. Help your class understand that
the Holy Spirit will produce holiness in the lives of all who spend time
seeking God through prayer and His Word.
Activities:
 Ask your class to share what new concepts of holiness they discovered
in this week’s lesson.
 Pass out a blank four-by-six-inch index card to each class member. Ask
each student to write a prayer for holiness on his or her card in just three
or four sentences. (Where supplies are unavailable, ask class members to
quietly compose their prayers in their hearts.) Here is one example of a
prayer for holiness.
Dear Lord,
Today, I long to be more like You. At times, I feel too rushed to spend
time in Your presence. Please forgive me for my busyness. Slow me down
long enough to hear Your voice. Change me by Your Holy Spirit, and may
I live the life of holiness that You have called me to.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
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The Holy Spirit and

the Fruit of the Spirit
Sabbath Afternoon
Read for This Week’s Study: John 15:1–11, Gal. 5:22,
1 Corinthians 13, Rom. 14:17, Eph. 5:9, Matt. 5:5.
Memory Text: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience,
kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such
things there is no law” (Galatians 5:22, 23, NASB).
T
he fruit of the Spirit is the true essence of the Christian life.
While the apostle Paul lists nine different aspects of this fruit,
it is nevertheless one fruit and has to be seen in its entirety. The
fruit of the Spirit does not tell us what a person might be able to do for
God through spiritual gifts and talents. Rather, it shows how the person
lives for God. It tells who the person is. All the virtues that are listed
in Galatians 5:22, 23 are present in Jesus Christ. Hence, the fruit of the
Spirit is the life of Jesus Christ in us, made possible through the power
of the Holy Spirit.
The fruit of the Spirit is not something we achieve by purely human
effort. It is possible to produce and display some of the same virtues
through the exercise of our willpower. But that is not the same as what
the Holy Spirit does in us. What we produce ourselves is like a wax
fruit compared to the real. Wax fruits are artificial. From a distance
they look just as beautiful, but the taste is immeasurably inferior to
the real. Real fruit is not manufactured. It grows out of a relationship.
When the Holy Spirit connects us with Jesus, through His Written
Word, His characteristics begin to reveal themselves in our own lives.
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S unday February 12
The Condition of Fruitfulness

Read John 15:1–11. Why can fruit come forth only out of a living
relationship with Jesus, the Vine? Why is abiding in Jesus so impor-
tant? How do we abide in Him?

The first secret to genuine Christian fruit bearing is to abide in
Christ. Apart from Christ, we cannot produce genuine spiritual fruit.
The fruit of the Spirit is not imposed upon us from outside; it is the
result of the life of Christ within us. In John 15:1–11, Jesus tells us
that fruit bearing is the result of the life of Christ, the Vine, flowing
through the branches of the believers. The growth of the fruit is God’s
work through Jesus Christ.
The responsibility of the believer is to abide in Christ. When Christ
dwells in our thoughts, He will become visible in our actions. Jesus
lives His life in us. The life Christ lived will be reproduced in us, in the
sense that we will reflect His character.
The fruit of the Spirit is the character of Jesus, produced by the Holy
Spirit in the followers of Christ. When Christ dwells in us, we will
“walk by the Spirit, and . . . will not carry out the desire of the flesh”
(Gal. 5:16, NASB).
In the words of Jesus: “ ‘Every good tree bears good fruit; but the rot-
ten tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a
rotten tree produce good fruit’ ” (Matt. 7:17, 18, NASB). The good fruit
is the natural product of our abiding relationship with Jesus through
the Holy Spirit. When we cooperate with the Spirit’s inner promptings
on our hearts, the fruit of the Spirit becomes evident in our lives. Our
characters will be transformed to reflect the character of Jesus Christ in
what we say and do and even think. The Holy Spirit will give us power
to live victoriously and to develop the virtues that are characteristic of
those who are God’s children.
In 2 Timothy 3:5, the apostle Paul describes people who “will act
religious, but they will reject the power that could make them
godly” (NLT). What is the difference between a religious life and
a life that is filled with the Holy Spirit? How can we know which
kind of life we ourselves are living?

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M onday February 13
The Fruit of Love

Read Galatians 5:22 and 1 Corinthians 13. Why is love the first and
foremost aspect of the fruit of the Spirit? How does love affect all
the following aspects of this fruit?

Love appropriately leads and crowns the various characteristics of the
fruit of the Spirit and permeates the whole fruit. In a sense all other quali-
ties listed can be seen as aspects of love. Because God is love (1 John 4:8),
the greatest Christian virtue is love (1 Cor. 13:13). God’s love is the
foundation and source of every other goodness. God’s love is poured
out to us within our hearts through the Holy Spirit (Rom. 5:5). Love is
the evidence that we are God’s children.
This love is far more than mere human affection. It cannot be pro-
duced by human effort. It comes as a result of abiding in Christ. Such
love is generous and unmerited. It alone has the power to transform.
In its tender yet strong nature, divine love leads the sinner to repen-
tance and awakens the desire for something better. Love has the power
to unite—even those who formerly were enemies (Luke 6:27, 28;
Rom. 5:8). Thus, by our love for each other the world will know that
Christians are indeed followers of Jesus Christ (John 13:35). This fruit
of love will also lead Christians to manifest understanding and sensitiv-
ity toward others.
It is interesting that the master description of love in 1 Corinthians
13 comes right between chapters 12 and 14. Those two chapters deal
with the gifts of the Spirit. Chapter 13, however, deals with love: the
fruit of the Spirit. Even the superior gifts are nothing without love. The
gifts of the Spirit without the fruit of the Spirit are powerless and do not
produce the blessing that God intends. Love, however, is the glue that
binds all other virtues of the fruit of the Spirit into a united whole and
gives authenticity to everything we do.
Where does your life lack the quality of love? Ask the Holy Spirit
to fill you with love toward those people with whom you are deal-
ing on a daily basis. Remember that God also loves us through
other people. How can you show others love? How does love affect
those other virtues mentioned in the fruit of the Spirit?

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T uesday February 14
Joy, Peace, and Patience

Romans 14:17 reads: “for the kingdom of God is not eating and
drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit”
(NASB). That is, joy is love’s reaction to the blessings of God and His
great mercy and forgiveness.
Now, human joy often is focused upon earthly things and is affected
by the conditions that surround us. The joy that is rooted in the fruit of
the Spirit, however, focuses on God and what He has done for us. It is
not motivated by surrounding conditions. As God’s people, we are to
be joyful. This does not mean that we have to smile all the time, even
though a friendly smile expresses much. But our trust in God will give
us abundant reasons to rejoice with unspeakable joy over what He has
done for us and in us. Spiritual joy is the result of active faith.
Read John 14:27 along with Romans 14:17. How is peace related to
the work of the Holy Spirit?

Peace is more lasting than joy. Peace comes as a result of being justi-
fied by faith in our Lord Jesus Christ (Rom. 5:1). When we are at peace
with God, the Holy Spirit will lead us to be peaceful and patient toward
others. Because the God of peace will be with us (Phil. 4:9) through
the Holy Spirit, we will not be quarrelsome and vengeful toward oth-
ers. Instead, we will seek to live as peaceably as possible with everyone
(Rom. 12:18).
Read 2 Peter 3:9. How does patience reflect the character of God?

Patience is not a prevalent characteristic of human beings. It means
putting up with others or with circumstances, even when things do
not run smoothly. Yet, even in trials, we are not alone. God sustains us
through His Holy Spirit and builds patience, which is a characteristic
mark of the believers in the end time (Rev. 14:12). Only those who aim
at a worthy goal can be patient.
Joy, peace, and patience. How much of this fruit do you experi-
ence in your life? In which of these areas do you need more work
done in you?
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Kindness, Goodness, and Faithfulness

Read 1 Corinthians 13:4. Why does genuine kindness have such posi-
tive appeal to other people? Where do you see God’s kindness in
His dealings with humanity?

“Kindness” is the word frequently used in describing God’s deal-
ings with His people. Kindness also describes our dealings with others
in their failures. God could be quite harsh in dealing with our faults.
Yet, He treats us as a loving father would treat a learning child (Hos.
11:1–4). Perhaps nothing discredits our Christian testimony and minis-
try more frequently than unkindness. It does not cost money to be kind,
but it can open the door to the heart of the other person. No matter how
firm we must be in reproof, we need not become unkind in our dealings
with others, whatever their faults and issues. To reprove in kindness is
perhaps the greatest sign of nobility of character.
Read Ephesians 5:9. What accompanies goodness in this passage?

Goodness is love in action. The goodness that grows as the fruit of
the Spirit also includes works and acts of goodness. It is goodness
shown to others in practical works of love. When the Holy Spirit lives
in us, there will be a positive outflow of goodness to the people with
whom we come in contact.
Read Galatians 5:22. Why is it important to be trustworthy and faith-

ful in our Christian walk with God?

What we are looking at here is the faithfulness of character and
conduct brought forth through the Holy Spirit. Faithfulness means
trustworthiness or reliability. Those who are faithful do what they
promise to do. Faithfulness is also a characteristic of Jesus Christ,
who is called “the faithful witness” (Rev. 1:5, NASB), and of God
the Father, who keeps His promises and is faithful in what He does
(1 Cor. 1:9, 10:13, 1 Thess. 5:24, 2 Thess. 3:3). In our faithfulness,
we reflect the image of God in our lives. “It is not the great results
we attain, but the motives from which we act, that weigh with God.
He prizes goodness and faithfulness more than the greatness of the
work accomplished.”—Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church,
vol. 2, pp. 510, 511.
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Gentleness and Self-Control

Read Galatians 5:23 and Matthew 5:5. Why is meekness, or gentleness,
so important for Christlike leadership?

Gentleness, or meekness, does not mean weakness. It is not cow-
ardice or lack of leadership. On the contrary, Moses was called the
meekest man on earth (Num. 12:3); yet, he was a powerful leader of
God’s people. Meek people are not boisterous, quarrelsome, or self-
ishly aggressive. Instead, they serve in a gentle spirit. Meekness can
be the outward expression of an inward faith and confidence—not in
oneself, of course, but in the power of God, which works within us.
Oftentimes, those who are loud, boisterous, and assertive are covering
up insecurities and fears.
Read Galatians 5:23 and Proverbs 16:32. What misery comes when
we do not exercise self-control? What blessings do we gain if we are
self-controlled and temperate in our lives?

The last aspect of the fruit of the Spirit is temperance or self-control.
Here is where we all need to be careful, for who doesn’t struggle, in
one area or another, with self-mastery? Before one can rule a city, a
community, or a church, one has to be able to control his or her own
spirit. True temperance is control, not only over food and drink but over
every phase of life.
All the above-mentioned aspects are parts of the one fruit of the Spirit.
When the Bible describes God’s work in our lives, the ethical aspects
of holiness have priority over the charismatic gifts. Christlikeness in all
its facets is what really matters in the life of the believer. Because the
fruit of the Spirit is the common distinguishing mark of all believers
everywhere, it produces a visible unity in His church.
Think about areas of your life in which you should be more

self-controlled. Perhaps you are in one area but not so much in
another. Why is it important to have, through the power of God,
control over all areas? Bring your answer to class on Sabbath.

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F riday February 17
Further Thought: “In modern language the passage in Galatians

5:22, 23 could read something like this: ‘The Fruit of the Spirit is an
affectionate, lovable disposition, a radiant spirit and a cheerful temper,
a tranquil mind and a quiet manner, a forbearing patience in provoking
circumstances and with trying people, a sympathetic insight and tactful
helpfulness, generous judgment and a big-souled charity, loyalty and
reliableness under all circumstances, humility that forgets self in the joy
of others, in all things self-mastered and self-controlled, which is the
final mark of perfecting. This is the kind of character that is the Fruit
of the Spirit. Everything is in the word Fruit. It is not by striving, but by
abiding; not by worrying, but by trusting; not of works, but of faith.’ ”
—S. Chadwick, in Arthur Walkington Pink, The Holy Spirit (Bellingham,
Wash.: Logos Bible Software, n.d.), chapter 30.
“If the love of the truth is in your heart, you will talk of the truth. You
will talk of the blessed hope that you have in Jesus. If you have love in
your heart, you will seek to establish and build up your brother in the most
holy faith. If a word is dropped that is detrimental to the character of your
friend or brother, do not encourage this evil-speaking. It is the work of the
enemy. Kindly remind the speaker that the Word of God forbids that kind
of conversation.”—Ellen G. White, Ye Shall Receive Power, p. 76.
 In class, talk about the final question at the end of Thursday’s
study regarding the need for self-control. Why, if we are saved by
grace, is victory over sin so important? After all, isn’t the gospel
about forgiveness of sin? At the same time, think of the character
of Judas and what the sin of covetousness did to him. What can
we learn from his example about the answer to the question about
the need for victory? Also, how does what Ellen G. White says
here help shed light on the question of the need for victory? “One
wrong trait of character, one sinful desire cherished, will eventu-
ally neutralize all the power of the gospel.”—Testimonies for the
Church, vol. 5, p. 53.
 Why is the fruit of the Spirit more important than any gifts of
the Spirit?
 Read aloud 1 Corinthians 13 in class and talk about what it

means. Why does Paul put such a big emphasis on the need for
love? How can we learn to love the way that Paul talks about show-
ing love here? Why is death to self and abiding in Christ so crucial,
especially in loving those whom we truly dislike?
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i n s i d e
Story
A Place to Belong
Leila awoke with a heavy heart. It was Sabbath, and she was homesick. She
remembered her mother and brother, who would be going to church today.
In Kenya, it seemed that nearly everyone went to church. But in
Denmark, where Leila now lived, it seemed that few people attended the
fine churches scattered across the city. In fact, she had been so busy in
the two months since she had arrived that she hadn’t thought much about
finding a church either.
Leila had come to Copenhagen to visit her aunt. When the woman
suggested that Leila find work as an au pair (a live-in babysitter), Leila
agreed. She obtained the necessary visa and found a job with a won-
derful family who treated her well. She began saving money to attend
college when she returned home. But she hadn’t found a church home.
Suddenly, she turned on the computer and searched for a Seventh-day
Adventist church in Copenhagen. She was thrilled to discover an inter-
national Adventist congregation that worshiped in the city. Quickly, she
copied down the address. But how could she get there? Her aunt wasn’t
an Adventist, so Leila decided to take the bus. She found a map and
hurried to catch the bus.
Arriving at the place where the Adventists normally met, Leila was
dismayed to find the room empty! Then she noticed a letter explaining
that the members were on a retreat. The letter gave directions, so Leila
hurried to catch a bus to the region outside the city where the retreat
was being held.
She got lost several times before she found the retreat center and
arrived just as the sermon was ending. But Leila didn’t care. She had
found fellow believers!
She met Rose from Uganda, who invited her to join her for lunch.
Rose introduced Leila to other members of the English-speaking church.
She met people from around the world—Iceland, Philippines, Tanzania,
and America, as well as from Denmark. The members welcomed her
warmly and invited her to join them the next Sabbath, and Leila was
determined not to miss another Sabbath of fellowship and worship!
Leila rejoices that she has found her spiritual home in Denmark in the
international congregation. She feels loved and nurtured there and in
turn welcomes and nurtures others who come.
The international English-language church in Copenhagen represents
Adventists from at least 16 countries, yet they find unity and fellowship
in their adopted country and their new church home. A portion of your
Thirteenth Sabbath Offering in 2010 helped to provide funds for a new
place of worship for this international Adventist congregation. Thank
you!

teachers comments
The Lesson in Brief

Key Texts: Galatians 5:22–26, John 15:1–8
The Student Will:

Know: Recognize the absolute necessity of abiding in Christ in order to
develop the fruit of the Holy Spirit in his or her life.
Feel: Experience a deepening desire to spend time with Jesus and
develop the fruit of the Spirit.
Do: Resolve to spend time with Jesus in prayer, Bible study, and Christian
meditation to develop the fruit of the Spirit in each aspect of his or her life.
Learning Outline:
I. Know: Spirituality and the Fruit of the Spirit
A Can you be an authentic Christian without manifesting the fruit of the
Holy Spirit in your own life? Why, or why not?
B Of what is the fruit of the Holy Spirit evidence?
II. Feel: Abiding in Christ and the Fruit of the Spirit

A When feelings are raw and someone speaks an unkind word and you
respond with love, kindness, patience, and self-control, what does that do
for you? For the relationship?
B How do you feel when you do not exhibit the fruit of the Spirit in
tense circumstances? What feelings do you have when you are unloving,
impatient, or unkind?
III. Do: Daily Living and the Fruit of the Spirit

A Determine to set aside some time every day to spend time with Jesus
and take inventory of your own spiritual life.
B Commit a specific amount of time each day to abide in Christ through
prayer and a study of the Word.
Summary: The fruit of the Spirit is not a natural human character trait. It is a
result of abiding in Jesus that produces a supernatural change in the life of
each believer. The fruit of the Spirit is evidence that we have a deeply rooted
relationship with Christ. Healthy trees produce healthy fruits in abundance.
As Christians, we do not struggle in our strength to produce the fruit of the
Spirit. As we abide in Jesus, through Bible study and prayer, He develops
this fruit in us.
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teachers comments
Learning Cycle
STEP 1—Motivate
Spotlight on Scripture: Galatians 5:22, 23
Key Concept for Spiritual Growth: The greatest motivation for

obedience and service is love. God’s love for us is life transformating.
Understanding His love changes us. As we receive His love, we are
able to love. Loving God enables us to love others. Apart from God,
the human heart is naturally selfish and incapable of genuinely loving.
When we spend time beholding God’s love, revealed in Christ, we
are changed. To “walk in the Spirit” (Gal. 5:25, NKJV) is to fix our
minds on Christ. It is to “abide in [Christ]” (1 John 4:13, NKJV). It is
to spend time with Christ. As we place priority on our relationship
with Christ, His love will flow into our hearts, and the fruit of the
Spirit will be manifest in our lives. Ellen G. White states it beauti-
fully: “When we know God as it is our privilege to know Him, our life
will be a life of continual obedience. Through an appreciation of the
character of Christ, through communion with God, sin will become
hateful to us.”—The Desire of Ages, p. 668.
Just for Teachers: This week’s lesson focuses on developing the fruit
of the Spirit in our lives. We will study each of the character qualities
known as the fruit of the Spirit, outlined in Galatians 5:22, 23. These
character qualities are really the attributes of Christ’s character. Jesus
is loving, patient, kind, good, and unselfish. He always exhibits gentleness
and self-control. He reveals faithfulness to the Father’s will and perfect
peace, or trust, in His heavenly Father.
As we behold Him, we will become like the One we most admire.
Because the Holy Spirit was sent to “ ‘testify of’ ” (John 15:26, NKJV)
and “glorify” (John 16:14) Jesus, as we submit to His promptings
and yield to His convicting power, the Holy Spirit will testify of and
glorify Jesus in our lives. The love of Christ will be revealed in and
through us (1 John 3:1–3, 4:9–11). It is impossible to really love God
and not love the people around us. God’s love is the fountain from
which all genuine love flows. Loving Him, we love one another. The
more we love God, the more His love flows through us to others
(1 John 4:12–16). Each of the fruit of the Spirit grows out of our love
for God and His love for us.
Opening Discussion: In Galatians 5, the apostle Paul talks about

“walk[ing] in the Spirit” (Gal. 5:16) and the “works of the flesh” (Gal.
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teachers comments
5:19). He urges us to “crucif[y] the flesh with its passions and desires” (Gal.
5:24, NKJV). (See Gal. 5:17.) Ask your class what walking “in the Spirit”
means in our daily lives. What does it mean to “crucif[y] the flesh”?
Read Galatians 5:22–24, and ask class members to describe how each
one of us can manifest the fruit of the Spirit in our lives. Have class
members share ways that help them to “crucif[y] the flesh” and “walk in
the Spirit.” How have they discovered ways to allow the Holy Spirit to
reveal Himself in their lives? Invite class members to share experiences
in their devotional lives that they feel are meaningful to their Christian
growth.

 What can we learn from the apostle Paul’s expression “walk in the
Spirit” (Gal. 5:16) about living a life that reveals the fruit of the Spirit?
 Is the fruit of the Spirit something we develop, or is it a gift somehow
given to us automatically by God? Explain. If we develop it, how do we
develop it, and where does the strength to develop it come from?
STEP 2—Explore
Just for Teachers: Modern medical research has discovered that a plant-
based diet reduces the risk of heart disease, stroke, most cancers, obe-
sity, and type 2 diabetes. You do not need a different diet to reduce the
risk of each one of these diseases. Eating a wide variety of fruits, nuts,
grains, and vegetables reduces not only the risk of coronary artery dis-
ease but also the risk of other killer diseases of the twenty-first century.
The same is true of spiritual growth. We do not need a different
approach for each of the spiritual maladies that afflict us. Impatience,
unkindness, jealousy, envy, and lust all have the same cure—Jesus.
Anger, hatred, envy, and bitterness all find their solution in Him. The
fruit of the Spirit is the external evidence that we have spent time with
Christ, and our hearts are overflowing with His love.
Bible Commentary
I. Growing in Christ and the Fruit of the Spirit (Review John 15:4 with the class.)
Jesus is the ultimate solution to all of our spiritual problems. He stated

this eternal truth: “ ‘Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear
fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you
abide in Me’ ” (John 15:4, NKJV). To abide in Christ is to develop a con-
tinuous, daily relationship with Him. Branches do not grow and produce
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teachers comments
fruit if they are united to the vine one day and broken off the next. Some
individuals ride high on a wave of religious emotion one day and seem to
walk in the valley of neglect the next. A vibrant, meaningful relationship
with Jesus that reflects the gifts of the Holy Spirit in the life is not an on-
again, off-again experience. It is a daily, constant communion with Christ.
By coming to Him, abiding in Him, and resting in His love, we become lov-
ing, patient, kind, gentle, and self-controlled. Consider this powerful statement:
“The root sends its nourishment through the branch to the outermost twig. So
Christ communicates the current of spiritual strength to every believer. So long
as the soul is united to Christ, there is no danger that it will wither or decay.
“The life of the vine will be manifest in fragrant fruit on the branches. ‘He
that abideth in Me,’ said Jesus, ‘and I in him, the same bringeth forth much
fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing.’ When we live by faith on the Son
of God, the fruits [sic] of the Spirit will be seen in our lives; not one will be
missing.”—Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 676.
The key to manifesting the fruit of the Spirit in our lives is not placing
each one of its characteristics on some spiritual checklist and checking it
off when we supposedly have achieved our goal. Rather, it is focusing on
knowing Jesus and letting Him reveal the fruit of His Spirit within us. When
a farmer’s fruit trees produce an abundant harvest, he or she rejoices. He or
she glories in the overflowing harvest. It is similar with God. Our heavenly
Father rejoices when we allow the Holy Spirit to produce His fruit in our
lives (John 15:11). When, through divine grace, we become partakers of the
divine nature, the character of God is vindicated before the universe in the
controversy between good and evil. (See The Seventh-day Adventist Bible
Commentary, vol. 7, p. 1043.)
Discussion Questions: The question is not, does Jesus long to abide in us?
The question is, will we allow Him to do so? Will we spend time getting to know
Him as a Friend? All friendships require time.
 Read John 15:4, 7. What relationship does abiding in Christ have with
reading the Word?
 How does Christ abide in us? Is this some vague, mystical experience, or
are there some very real ways in which Jesus lives in our lives? Explain.
 What relationship does developing the fruit of the Spirit have with abid-
ing in Christ?
STEP 3—Apply
Just for Teachers: Read Galatians 5:22–24 with your class. Briefly
review each one of the characteristics of the fruit of the Holy Spirit. Ask
different members of the class to define one of the nine characteristics
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teachers comments
of the fruit listed in Galatians 5. For example, what is love? How do

you define joy? What is peace? How would you describe a person who
manifests long-suffering or kindness? Take this approach with each
of the fruit of the Spirit.
1. Which of these nine characteristics of the fruit of the Holy Spirit do

you have difficulty manifesting in your life? What do you think the
reason is for this difficulty? What can you do to remedy the situation?
2. What are the issues in your life that keep you from a vital, life-
changing relationship with Christ? Commit to surrendering those
issues into His hands.
STEP 4—Create
Just for Teachers: The different characteristics of the fruit of the

Holy Spirit are not some unrealistic ideal for the average believer, avail-
able only for “supersaints.” They are the natural outgrowth of spending
time with Jesus. Help your class to recognize the vital importance of
spending time with Jesus every day so that the Holy Spirit can develop
His fruit in their lives.
Activities:
 Ask your class to spend a few minutes reviewing the list of the fruit of
the Spirit in Galatians 5:22–24. Have them write down the areas in which
they struggle most.
 Encourage each class member to spend a moment in prayer at the end
of the class, surrendering these undesirable character traits to God, asking
Him to develop the fruit of the Holy Spirit in his or her life. 97
The Holy Spirit and

the Gifts of the Spirit
Sabbath Afternoon
Read for This Week’s Study: 1 Cor. 12:4–7, 11; Eph. 4:7;
1 Cor. 12:14–31; Rom. 12:3–8; 1 John 4:1–3.
Memory Text: “There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are
diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all”
(1 Corinthians 12:4–6, NKJV).
G
oing away on a long business trip, a man left his son in charge
of the household with a specific task to do. But the son soon
realized that his father had not provided him with the necessary
means and tools to accomplish that task. Frustrated, the son had to leave
it undone.
Likewise, when Jesus left His disciples and went to be with His
Father in heaven, He gave them a specific task: preach the good
news of the gospel to the world. But Jesus did not leave His disciples
unequipped. What He commanded them to do He enabled them to do,
but in His name and through the power and help of the Holy Spirit. In
1 Corinthians 1:4–7, Paul gives thanks “for the grace of God which
was given you in Christ Jesus, that in everything you were enriched in
Him . . . so that you are not lacking in any gift” (NASB). Spiritual gifts
are given through the Holy Spirit in Christ to build His church.
This week we will study the Holy Spirit as the Sovereign Giver of
God’s remarkable gifts, and look at the difference between the fruit of
the Spirit and the gifts of the Spirit.
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S unday February 19
The Fruit of the Spirit

and the Gifts of the Spirit
The fruit of the Spirit and the gifts of the Spirit have the same Author.
Yet, they are not the same. No one is required to manifest a gift of the
Spirit, but everyone should manifest the fruit of the Spirit. Spiritual
gifts do not necessarily testify to spirituality, but the fruit of the Spirit
does. While there is only one fruit, there are many gifts, and some are
greater than others.
Read 1 Corinthians 12:4–7, 11. What is the essence of what Paul is

teaching here?

While all aspects of the fruit of the Spirit are designed by God to
be visible in the life of His followers, not every believer has the same
gift or gifts. There is no command that all should have one particular
gift, such as speaking in tongues. Instead, God sovereignly equips His
believers with different gifts as He sees fit. The gifts of the Spirit are
given so that we can serve others and build up the body of Christ, His
church. These gifts are not given for our own pleasure and glory. They
are bestowed to further the cause of God.
Therefore, spiritual gifts are worthless without the fruit of the Spirit.
It is interesting that within the context of the spiritual gifts, love is
often alluded to. Immediately after 1 Corinthians 12 comes the supreme
description of love, in chapter 13. Ephesians 4:11–13 is followed in
verses 15 and 16 with references to love. The next verses after Romans
12:3–8, where the gifts of the Spirit are mentioned, speak about love
(see Rom. 12:9, 10).
The gifts are, after all, gifts of grace; that is, they are gifts of love.
They are given out of love and serve the love of God in reaching other
people. By loving others, we are revealing the love of God to them. A
loving and omniscient God provides the means to accomplish what He
has commissioned His people to do. Perhaps that is why love is the
greatest gift of all (1 Cor. 13:13).
Why is love so central to all that we do as Christians? How does

love, in a sense, “empower” our witness?

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M onday February 20
God, the Sovereign Giver

of the Spiritual Gifts
It is not we who decide what gifts to have. The Greek word for the gifts
of the Spirit is charismata—they are gifts of grace, distributed and given
by God Himself. We do not earn them by our status, our position, our
honor, our education, or our spiritual performance. They are gifts, freely
given out of love so that we can fulfill the task God has assigned us to do.
Read Ephesians 4:7. We often think that the Holy Spirit is the One who
bestows spiritual gifts. The apostle Paul also connects Jesus Christ with
the giving of the gifts. How is Jesus involved in the giving of the gifts?

Paul says that the grace of Christ secured the right to give us gifts.
But it is the Holy Spirit who distributes them to the members of the
church. Those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Savior
and believe in Him will be equipped by the Holy Spirit with spiritual
gifts “as He wills” (1 Cor. 12:11, NASB). The bestowal of the gifts is
God’s sovereign decision.
Innate ability as such is not a spiritual gift. Spiritual gifts are not the
same as natural talents that a person might develop through intense edu-
cation. Many non-Christians are blessed with such providential talents.
While every good thing and perfect gift is ultimately from God (James
1:17), God has decided to equip His believers with special gifts in order
to bless the lives of other Christians and to build up His church. God also
can use a natural talent for that purpose when the person acknowledges
that even such a talent ultimately comes from God and then prayerfully
and submissively dedicates that talent to the Lord’s work.
What does Paul tell his readers in 1 Corinthians 12:14–31 about the
distribution of the gifts? Why is this perspective so important for
understanding how spiritual gifts function in the church?

The Holy Spirit is the one who distributes the gifts according to His
wisdom and will. Since He loves us and knows best how we can serve
Him most efficiently, we do not need to be envious of others and their
gifts. To envy other gifts is a sign of ingratitude toward God and of
doubting His wisdom in the distribution of His gifts.
What gifts has God granted to members of your church? What

message can you take away from the fact that different people
have different gifts?
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The Purpose of the Spiritual Gifts

Read Romans 12:3–8 and Ephesians 4:8–12. What is the purpose of
the spiritual gifts that God gives us?

The spiritual gifts were clearly given for service, not for our sanctifica-
tion. They are not miraculous tricks that satisfy our curiosity, nor are they
given as an antidote to boredom. Often we think about the gifts of the
Holy Spirit in terms of fulfilling our spiritual needs or as empowering us
in our walk with God. The result is a view of the gifts of the Holy Spirit
that is more Christian-centered than Christ-centered. It is more focused
on us than on God. When we try to recover a God-centered perspective
of the spiritual gifts, we realize that the gifts God gives fulfill multiple
divine purposes: they are given to further the unity of the church and
for building up the church (Eph. 4:12–16). They are given to carry on
the divinely commissioned ministry of the church (Eph. 4:11, 12). And
ultimately they are given to glorify God (1 Pet. 4:10, 11).
This is the reason why the gifts are never given to please us. They are
to edify others (1 Pet. 4:10; 1 Cor. 14:12, 26). They are given to bring
spiritual profit and edification to the whole church. It is a tragedy when
God’s gifts, which are supposed to foster unity in the church, are mis-
used so that only certain individuals are elevated. When this happens,
individuals receive undue prominence. This in turn fosters disunity and
gives way to divisiveness.
Too often we think about spiritual gifts only in terms of ability and
talents that we receive. While talents are involved in spiritual gifts, we
should keep in mind that in bestowing a spiritual gift the Holy Spirit
also always gives a specific task or ministry that goes along with it
(1 Pet. 4:10). Thus, we might say that spiritual gifts are certain capaci-
ties given supernaturally by God through the Holy Spirit. These gifts
fit the person for a special type of service that will build up the church.
To reach that goal, diverse gifts are needed.
Why do you think that a primary purpose of the gifts is church

unity? How can believers with different gifts aim at unity in the
church? What needs to take place so that different gifts in the
church become blessings rather than sources of division?
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The Gift, Then and Now

Read 1 Corinthians 14:1 and compare the different lists in 1 Corinthians
12:7–11, 27–31; Romans 12:3–8; and Ephesians 4:11, 12. Were those
gifts given only to the New Testament believers? Why are the gifts
available today?

There are some Christians who think that the spiritual gifts men-
tioned in the New Testament were restricted to the times of Jesus and
the apostles. They argue that, with the death of the first apostles, the
special spiritual gifts also have ceased to be present in the church.
In support of such a view, they quote 1 Corinthians 13:10, where
the apostle Paul states that “when the perfect comes, the partial will
be done away” (NASB). Yes, there will be a time when the gifts will
cease. But they will cease only when the perfect has come; that is,
when we no longer see as through a dark glass, but face to face, when
Jesus comes again. The Bible tells us that the spiritual gifts are given
to build up the church (1 Cor. 12:28). Paul admonishes the believers
to “desire earnestly spiritual gifts” (1 Cor. 14:1, NASB). They are nec-
essary to the well-being of the body. In the absence of any scriptural
proof that God has abolished them, we have to assume that He intends
them to remain until the church has completed its mission, and Christ
has come again.
The work of God will be completed at the end of time with power
and strength far exceeding the first beginnings. As long as the church
is called to prepare the world for Christ’s second coming, God will
not leave the members of the church without help in fulfilling their
mission. But these gifts will never supersede the Bible, nor occupy the
same place as the Bible. Rather, they are a fulfillment of the biblical
promise to equip the believers so that they can build up the body of
Christ, and prepare the world for the soon coming of Jesus.
Read Ephesians 4:11–13, especially verse 13, which says: “till we

all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son
of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the full-
ness of Christ” (NKJV). What does this tell us about the present
need for the gifts in the church?
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The Holy Spirit and the Gift

of Discernment
Read 1 Corinthians 12:10, 14:29, and 1 John 4:1–3. Why is the gift of
discernment important?

While there are genuine spiritual gifts present in the church, the
Bible also warns us not to believe every spirit but rather to test the spir-
its by their conformity to Scripture, their consistency, and whether they
exalt Jesus as the Lord. It is necessary to “distinguish between spirits”
(1 Cor. 12:10, ESV) because not everything that pretends to come from
God is really from God. We are warned that there are demonic powers
seeking to mislead the church and that there are devilish reproductions
of the genuine gifts of the Spirit, such as false teachings, false proph-
ecy, lying visions, counterfeit tongue-speaking, occult healing powers,
misleading signs and wonders, et cetera.
Some who accept the validity of the spiritual gifts even today, how-
ever, have placed a special emphasis on some spiritual gifts and have
given unwarranted prominence to the presence of special signs and
wonders. It is interesting that Paul lists the gift of discernment imme-
diately after he mentioned the gift of “effecting of miracles” and the
gift of “prophecy” and before he mentions the gift of tongues (1 Cor.
12:10, NASB).
In order to preserve the church in truth and unity and to safeguard
the members from following false prophets and being deluded by false
signs and miracles, God gives the church the gift of discernment. Biblical
maturity, knowledge, and faithfulness to God’s Word in belief and prac-
tice are needed to make proper evaluations. The basis for all discernment,
however, has to be the Word of God. Only through testing everything by
the Word can we know for sure whether what we are hearing or seeing is
truly from the Lord or, instead, from somewhere else.
“The man who makes the working of miracles the test of his faith
will find that Satan can, through a species of deceptions, perform
wonders that will appear to be genuine miracles. . . . Let not the days
pass by and precious opportunities be lost of seeking the Lord with all
the heart and mind and soul. If we accept not the truth in the love of it,
we may be among the number who will see the miracles wrought by
Satan in these last days, and believe them. Many strange things will
appear as wonderful miracles, which should be regarded as deceptions
manufactured by the father of lies. . . . Men under the influence of
evil spirits will work miracles.”—Ellen G. White, Selected Messages,
book 2, pp. 52, 53.
103
F riday February 24
Further Thought: Read Ellen G. White, “Agency of Evil Spirits,”

pp. 511–517; “The Scriptures a Safeguard,” pp. 593–602, in The Great
Controversy.
Some have asked, “Why don’t we see the same kinds of miracles,
such as the miraculous healings, today that were seen in Bible times?”
First, we do hear stories about miracles. And surely some people have
seen them firsthand, too. Second, when reading the Bible, we can get
the impression that miracles always were happening. But we get that
impression only because the Holy Spirit inspired the authors to write
about events that were crucial in establishing the early church, and these
events often included miracles. We could imagine that in most cases,
and most of the time, things back then were the way they are today:
people being taught the Word of God and then responding to the Holy
Spirit. And, finally, Ellen G. White wrote: “The way in which Christ
worked was to preach the Word, and to relieve suffering by miraculous
works of healing. But I am instructed that we cannot now work in this
way, for Satan will exercise his power by working miracles. God’s
servants today could not work by means of miracles, because spurious
works of healing, claiming to be divine, will be wrought. For this reason
the Lord has marked out a way in which His people are to carry forward
a work of physical healing, combined with the teaching of the Word.
Sanitariums are to be established, and with these institutions are to be
connected workers who will carry forward genuine medical missionary
work. Thus a guarding influence is thrown around those who come to
the sanitariums for treatment.”—Selected Messages, book 2, p. 54.
 What is the difference between the fruit of the Spirit and the
gifts of the Spirit?
 How can the understanding that the gifts are given by a lov-
ing and wise God help us to appreciate the various gifts in our
church?
 Why are miraculous healings and wonders in themselves not

a safe guide for determining truth? What do we need along with
them?
 “For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is

among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to
think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure
of faith” (Rom. 12:3, NKJV). What crucial admonition is given to
us here? How “highly” should we think of ourselves?
104
i n s i d e
Story
The Newspaper Ad:
Part 1
Kim leafed through the newspaper, scanning the headlines and reading
the stories that caught his interest. His eyes fell on a small advertisement
in the lower corner of the page. He read it absently, then stopped and
read it again. He turned the page and continued reading, but his mind
returned to that small advertisement. The few sentences in the advertise-
ment invited readers to join a Bible study that was meeting on Tuesday
evenings.
Kim flipped back through the newspaper, drawn to the ad as a moth
is drawn to a flame. He read the ad again, sensing that it offered some-
thing that he needed, that he had been searching for.
Kim had always been interested in spiritual things. Although his
family, like most in Denmark, wasn’t religious, Kim always believed
in good, if not in God. Kim sensed that life was filled with struggles
between good and evil. He had seen evil in the alcohol and drugs and
violence that he’d encountered, and he reasoned that if evil existed,
then somewhere good must exist as well.
He tried to live a good life, but his failures frustrated him. He
searched for ways to embrace goodness without realizing that the
good he was looking for was God.
In his search for goodness, Kim adopted a healthy lifestyle and
became a vegetarian. He shared what he was learning with his family,
but he was careful not to overwhelm them with too much information.
Over the course of time his parents saw the wisdom in his healthy
lifestyle.
As he read books on health, he was introduced to the New Age
movement. New Age teachings don’t deny God; instead, they teach
that God exists within every person as a force for good. But salvation
through Jesus Christ isn’t a part of New Age teachings.
When Kim faced some personal problems, he realized that the New
Age movement didn’t hold all the answers. There had to be something
more to life that he hadn’t yet discovered. He began to question God.
Was He real? Did He care about humanity? Could He love a person
and help him or her in times of trouble? If God cared about him, Kim
wanted to meet Him.

teachers comments
The Lesson in Brief

Key Text: 1 Corinthians 12:4–11
The Student Will:

Know: Contrast the fruit of the Spirit with the gifts of the Spirit. Analyze the
difference between the two, and discover the Holy Spirit’s divine purpose for
spiritual gifts.
Feel: Appreciate the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and foster a desire to use
his or her God-given gifts to build up the body of Christ, and reach out in
service to others.
Do: Be sensitive to the working of the Holy Spirit in the impartation of
spiritual gifts, and choose to use these gifts to glorify God.
Learning Outline:
I. Know: Understanding the Gifts of the Spirit
A How do we define the gifts of the Spirit? What is a spiritual gift?
B Who determines who receives each gift?
C What is the difference between the fruit of the Spirit and the gifts of
the Spirit?
II. Feel: Understanding Our Individual Gifts

A Why is it so easy to overlook the spiritual gifts God gives to us?
B When we feel envious of other multigifted people, what does this
really say about our attitude toward God?
III. Do: Understanding the Purpose of Spiritual Gifts

A What is the purpose of the gifts that the Holy Spirit imparts?
B How do the gifts of the Holy Spirit enable us to relate positively to
other church members?
C What function do spiritual gifts have in building up the body of Christ
and ministering in the community?
Summary: When we respond positively to the promptings of the Holy Spirit to

know Christ intimately, the Holy Spirit imparts gifts, or divinely endowed
capacities, to each one of us, as He wills, in order to build up the body of
Christ, to serve the community at large, and to glorify God.
106
teachers comments
Learning Cycle
STEP 1—Motivate
Spotlight on Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:4–11
Key Concept for Spiritual Growth: The Holy Spirit imparts gifts to
each believer to build up Christ’s church and to accomplish Christ’s
mission in the community. Our Lord has not given us a task without
equipping us for that task. He has not given us a mission without giv-
ing us the necessary gifts to fulfill the mission. The gifts of the Spirit
are given to each believer in order that he or she may fulfill a role as
a member of the body of Christ in glorifying God through ministry
in the body.
Just for Teachers: This week’s lesson reveals one of the most powerful
principles in the entire Bible for growing healthy churches. God has
given every member gifts for ministry in the church and in the com-
munity. He or she may not realize what those gifts are, but the Holy
Spirit has imparted them. When we recognize the gifts that God has
given us and use them to His glory, the church functions as a healthy
body.
Encourage your class members to pray that God will help them
recognize their gifts, and guide them in using these gifts to advance
His kingdom. Share the thought that the same Holy Spirit that
imparts the gifts will reveal to each one of us which gifts He has
imparted and how to best use them in Christ’s service. When we are
sensitive to the working of the Holy Spirit and are completely com-
mitted to Christ and His work, the Spirit will guide us in discerning
our gifts, and teach us how to best use them to glorify God.
Opening Discussion: Let’s read together the gifts of the Holy Spirit listed
in 1 Corinthians 12:27, 28 and Romans 12:6–8. If you could choose to have
any one of these gifts, which one would you choose? Why would you choose
that particular gift? What makes that gift desirable to you?
Can you remember a special birthday or Christmas as a child when you
wanted something badly but were disappointed when you did not get it?
This disappointment happened to a little girl who prayed for an elephant.
She longed for a baby elephant as a pet. There was nothing she wanted
more than a real elephant. Do you think her parents bought her a baby
elephant to keep in the backyard? Certainly not! They were much wiser
than this little girl. There are times when we pray for our “elephants,” but
God is much wiser than we are and imparts the gifts to us that He best
knows we will use to glorify His name in service for Him.
107 107
teachers comments

 Why do you think the Holy Spirit chooses the gifts for each believer and
does not encourage us to pray for a specific gift?
 What gifts are we encouraged to seek? (See 1 Cor. 12:30, 31.)
 What is the difference between a spiritual gift and a natural talent?
 Why is the topic of spiritual gifts so encouraging?
STEP 2—Explore
Just for Teachers: Each of God’s gifts is given to us out of the abun-
dance of His grace and love. It is because He loves His church so deeply
that He imparts to us gifts to build up His church. Although each
Christian cannot do everything, each one of us can do something for
Christ. Each one has been given gifts for service.
Although these gifts vary, they all are necessary for a healthy,
functioning church. There are no superior and inferior gifts. The
gift of helps is just as important to the church as the gift of healing.
The gift of hospitality is just as important as the gift of proclama-
tion. The gift of generosity is just as important as the gift of admin-
istration. Can you imagine a church without those who had the gift
of helps, the gift of hospitality, or the gift of generosity? It certainly
would be a cold, self-centered, inward-focused group of people.
Every gift is essential. As the apostle Paul so aptly puts it, “But now
God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He
pleased. . . . Those members of the body which seem to be weaker
are necessary” (1 Cor. 12:18, 22, NKJV). Help your class to under-
stand that each member is necessary, each one has been given gifts
by God, and each one is called by God to use those gifts, whether
they are large or small, for the advancement of His kingdom.
Bible Commentary
I. The Holy Spirit Imparts Spiritual Gifts for Service (Review 1 Corinthians
12:11 with the class.)
The Corinthian church was fraught with serious spiritual problems. There
was jealousy, envy, and strife among the members (1 Cor. 3:3, 4). Immorality
crept into the church (1 Cor. 5:1). Some members even threatened to take
others to the civil courts to solve their problems (1 Cor. 6:1). There were
arguments over eating meat that had been offered to idols, an abuse of the
Lord’s Supper, and a misuse of spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 8, 11, 14).
108
teachers comments
The church at Corinth was divided, filled with conflict, and threatened with a
schism.
It is in this context that the apostle Paul, under the inspiration of the
Holy Spirit, writes to them about spiritual gifts as a unifying force. He
outlines three key points about spiritual gifts in the life and ministry of
the church:
1. A sovereign God gives the gifts as He chooses. We do not choose which
gifts we receive. He chooses which gifts He gives.
2. Every believer receives at least one specific gift imparted by the Holy
Spirit.
3. The function of all of the gifts is to glorify God by building up the
church, unifying the body of Christ, and reaching out in mission to the com-
munity.
It is the same Holy Spirit who imparts each gift to believers. Paul makes
this point too plain to be misunderstood. “But one and the same Spirit
works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills”
(1 Cor. 12:11, NKJV). Ellen G. White adds, “To every person is committed
some peculiar gift or talent which is to be used to advance the Redeemer’s
kingdom.”—Testimonies for the Church, vol. 4, p. 618. Each one of us has
been given a particular gift by Christ to be used in His service. No one
is left out. Every gift is necessary in order to build God’s kingdom and
advance His cause.
Consider This: What is the function of spiritual gifts? How do the gifts serve as
a unifying force in the church?
STEP 3—Apply
Just for Teachers: Guide your class in a practical discussion on how to

discover their gifts and how to use them in Christ’s service. Point out that
the same Holy Spirit who has imparted gifts will reveal those gifts. Here are
a few steps to help your class discover the gifts God has given:
1. Commit your life to Christ, and thank Him for the gifts of the Spirit He
has given you.
2. Ask Him to reveal those gifts.
3. Analyze the areas of witness and service you feel God is calling you to
and then get involved in service.
4. Remember that our gifts do not come developed fully. The more we use
the gifts that God has given, the more they will grow, and the more efficient
we will become in using them.
5. Look for some affirmation from other members of the body of Christ
that God has gifted you in particular areas.
109
teachers comments
Thought Questions:
 When we commit our lives to Jesus and are baptized, He promises to
send His Spirit to strengthen us in order that we may face the temptations
of Satan and to impart spiritual gifts for service. Why is it that, at times, we
fail to recognize our gifts?
 How can we know which gifts God has given us?
 How can we help one another to discover our spiritual gifts?
 What gifts do other class members have? Consider your Sabbath School
class. Invite members to name some of the gifts they see in other members of
the class.
STEP 4—Create
Just for Teachers: As we discover the gifts that God has given us,
and use them to build up His church and to witness in the community,
we will find joy in service. Spiritual satisfaction occurs when we use the
gifts we have been given in order to bless others. We take no glory for
these gifts, because we know that they are gifts given by a loving Lord to
advance His cause.
Activities:
 What gifts has God given you, and how can you more effectively use
those gifts in service.
 Think of some creative project for your Sabbath School class that
uniquely uses the gifts of each member. How can you collectively use your
gifts for the cause of Christ?
110
L esson 9 *February 25–March 3
The Holy Spirit and the

Church
Sabbath Afternoon
Read for This Week’s Study: Eph. 1:22, 23; 1 Cor. 12:13;
Rom. 6:3–7; Acts 17:11; Eph. 4:5, 6; Acts 2:4–11.
Memory Text: “Being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the
bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were
called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism”
(Ephesians 4:3–5, NASB).
S
ometimes we think of the Holy Spirit at work only on the indi-
vidual level in the lives of individual believers. But this work in
individuals is the foundation of a spiritual community. The Holy
Spirit is ultimately responsible for the existence of the church of Christ.
We are often tempted to think that the church exists and grows
because of our various evangelistic and missionary activities. Yes, God
wants to achieve His glorious plans for the church, and to do so with
our help. But the real reason for the church lies not in what we do; nor
is it the result of our efficient organization and effective administration,
however important these are. The church exists because of what God
has already done and continues to do for us through the Holy Spirit.
It is the Holy Spirit who creates a spiritual community and fellowship
that has the Written Word of God, inspired by the same Spirit, as its
authority for faith and practice. The Spirit-inspired Bible is the founda-
tion for the theological unity of the church. Without the work of the
Spirit, the church would not exist and could not continue to fulfill its
united mission.
* Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, March 4.
111
S unday February 26
The Holy Spirit Unites Us With Christ

The Holy Spirit unites us in manifold ways. We would not exist as a
church if the Holy Spirit did not unite us first with Christ. Christ is the
head of the church (see Eph. 1:22, 23; 5:23). Through the Holy Spirit,
we are effectually united to Christ Himself. Being united with Christ
is the foundation of all the blessings of salvation, because all we have
in the Lord comes from Him. Our adoption as sons and daughters of
Christ, our justification as well as our sanctification, our living victori-
ous lives over sin, and our final glorification—are all received through
our union with Christ. Thus, He must be the foundation of our entire
Christian experience.
Read Ephesians 2:18, 20–22, and 1 Peter 2:6, 7. What do they tell us
about the role of Christ and the Holy Spirit in the creation of the
church?

Through the Spirit, we have access to God the Father. Jesus is the
Rock, the foundation of our salvation, and the One upon whom all other
parts of the whole building are erected.
The work of the Spirit on the individual level then leads to a specific
community of faith: the church. When we have experienced salvation
through faith in Christ Jesus alone, and have been touched by the love
of God, there is a sweet “fellowship of the Holy Spirit” (2 Cor. 13:14,
NASB) in the church. Individual believers are being built into a new
spiritual house of God “in the Spirit” (Eph. 2:22, NASB). As followers
of Christ we should be eager “to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the
bond of peace” (Eph. 4:3, NASB). In every way possible, without com-
promising what cannot be compromised, we need to seek for unity in
the fellowship of believers.
Read Colossians 3:12–14. How can you exemplify these attributes

and contribute to unity in the church? Why are these attributes
so crucial to the unity of the church?

112
M onday February 27
The Holy Spirit Unites Us

Through Baptism
Read 1 Corinthians 12:13. How does baptism unite us with Christ and
with the Spirit?

It is the Holy Spirit who unites us into one body of believers. The
public entrance into Christ’s spiritual kingdom is through baptism. We
are baptized into a specific church body. Thus, baptism has a distinct
communal dimension and important communal implications. As fol-
lowers of Christ, we cannot live by ourselves. We all need the support,
encouragement, and help of others. And we certainly cannot fulfill the
divine mission alone. That is why God has created the church. To fol-
low Christ means following Him in the fellowship of other believers.
Thus, baptism and the church have a visible component to them.
Read Romans 6:3–7. What is symbolized through biblical baptism?

The act of being buried with Jesus Christ through baptism into death
in the watery grave and being raised to new life in fellowship with
Jesus, our Lord and Savior, represents the crucifixion of the old life and
the public confession of accepting Christ as our Savior.
“Baptism is a most solemn renunciation of the world. Self is by pro-
fession dead to a life of sin. The waters cover the candidate, and in the
presence of the whole heavenly universe the mutual pledge is made. In
the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, man is laid in his
watery grave, buried with Christ in baptism, and raised from the water
to live the new life of loyalty to God.”—Ellen G. White Comments, The
SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 6, p. 1074.
Baptism is a positive step with which all who wish to be acknowl-
edged as being under the authority of the Father, the Son, and the Holy
Spirit must comply. In other words, baptism marks true repentance, the
crucifixion of the old life, and it signals the new birth or conversion. It
also encompasses mutual covenant obligations. The believer promises
to be faithful to God and His commandments, and God guarantees that
we can depend on His help whenever we need it.
Have you made a decision for believers’ baptism? If not, what

hinders you from following Christ in baptism? If you have
been baptized by immersion, how has your baptismal covenant
impacted your spiritual walk with Jesus?

113
The Holy Spirit Unites the Church

Through the Word of God
Read Acts 17:11 and John 5:39, 46, 47; 8:31, 32. What is a distinguishing
mark of a true disciple of Christ? Why is the Bible so indispensable
in pointing us to Christ and in helping us to follow Him faithfully?

The primary means by which the Holy Spirit unites us with Christ
is through the Written Word of God. The Bible is a trustworthy source
for knowing Jesus and the will of God. That is why reading Scripture
and memorizing its content is so important. The Bible is the authorita-
tive source for discerning spiritual truth and error. Paul commended the
Bereans as noble-minded (Acts 17:11) because they diligently studied and
searched the Scriptures in order to find out if what they had heard was true.
Any reformation and spiritual revival—no matter whether it affects
us individually or as a church corporately—must be based on Scripture.
The Bible is the foundation on which our faith is built; meanwhile,
the love of Jesus and for His Written Word is the bond that keeps us
together.
Read John 17:17–21. Here Jesus speaks about unity as a distinguish-

ing mark of Christian discipleship. According to John 17:17, what
is the basis for this unity?

The Word of God is truth (John 17:17, Ps. 119:160). The unity
of the church is the work of the Spirit with and through the Written
Word of God. The Holy Spirit will never lead us to doubt, criticize, go
beyond, or fall short of Bible teaching. Instead, He makes us appreciate
the divine authority of Scripture. The Holy Spirit never draws us away
from the Written Word, any more than from the Living Word. Instead,
He keeps us in constant, conscious, and willing submission to both. The
Bible is the foundational source for any theological unity worldwide.
Were we to lessen or weaken our implicit belief in the Bible as God’s
Word of truth to us, the unity of the church would be destroyed.
How much time do you spend in the Word? More important, how
can you learn to submit to its teachings?
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W ednesday March 1

in Faith and Doctrine
“One Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all,
who is above all, and through all, and in you all” (Eph. 4:5, 6).
What is Paul telling us here about unity and where it comes from?

Unity in faith and doctrine is accomplished only in faithfulness to
the Word of God. The Lord, who is the same yesterday, today, and for-
ever, forms a spiritual bond with every believer. The same new birth,
generated by the Holy Spirit, the same obedience to the Word of God,
enabled by the Holy Spirit, leads to a unity of faith and practice that
transcends all human and cultural differences.
While we are called to submit to the Word of God and to do every-
thing we can to maintain peace with everyone (Rom. 12:18), ultimately
we cannot bring about theological unity or unity of purpose as a church
body. For unity is not so much a work to be achieved but a gift of the
Holy Spirit, who works on each believer individually and on the church
corporately.
The theological foundation of this unity is the Word of God. Any
appeal to the Spirit without the Written Word can lead to suspect doc-
trines and practices. At the same time, any appeal to the Written Word
of God without the Holy Spirit dries up the Word and makes it barren.
Because there is only one Lord, there is only one faith that leads to
one baptism. Only in joyful faithfulness to the Word of God will we be
able to see unity within our church. And if there is no unity in faith and
doctrine, there will be no unity in mission.
“We have one Lord, one faith, one baptism. The gospel of Christ is to
reach all classes, all nations, all tongues and people. The influence of
the gospel is to unite in one great brotherhood. We have only one Model
that we are to imitate in character building, and then we all shall have
Christ’s mold; we shall be in perfect harmony; nationalities will blend
in Jesus Christ, having the same mind, and the same judgment, speak-
ing the same things, and with one mouth glorifying God.”—Ellen G.
White, Our High Calling, p. 171.
Look at the Ellen G. White statement above. Not worrying about

others and what others do, but only yourself, ask: What can I do
to help reach this wonderful goal of unity?

115
T hursday March 2

in Mission and Service
Read Acts 2:4–11, 16–21. What was the result of the Holy Spirit’s
being poured out on the New Testament believers?

The Holy Spirit was responsible for the most powerful missionary
outreach that history had witnessed to that point. God can do more
through a small group that is united in their devotion to Him than He
can through a large group divided in their loyalties. But God can do
even greater things when we all have devoted our lives and our ener-
gies, our talents and our resources, to Him.
Out of the unity in life and mission of the believers grew the New
Testament church. A small and timid group of believers was changed into
a powerful troop that became an effective tool that reached people from
many different cultures and languages. They were united in proclaiming
“the mighty deeds of God” (Acts 2:11, NASB). The same God who was
active in New Testament times will continue to be active at the end of
time, when the work needs to be finished before He comes again.
Read Acts 2:42–47. In what other things were the New Testament
believers united?

The Pentecost mission enterprise was accompanied by a number of
other factors where the early church stood united. They were united
in Bible study and continually devoted themselves to the apostles’
teachings (Acts 2:42). They were united in fellowship and the break-
ing of bread, possibly a reference to united worship (Acts 2:42). They
were united in prayer (Acts 2:42) and in praising God (Acts 2:47). They
were united in serving those in need when they freely shared what they
possessed and had all things in common (Acts 2:44, 45). United Bible
study and fellowship will result in the desire to share the good news
with others and to help others in very practical ways. The Holy Spirit
will open our eyes to the needs of those around us.
What activities in your local church help to reveal the unity of

your church? What more could be done?
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F riday March 3
Further Thought: “This is the work in which we also are to be engaged.

Instead of living in expectation of some special season of excitement,
we are wisely to improve present opportunities, doing that which must
be done in order that souls may be saved. Instead of exhausting the
powers of our mind in speculations in regard to the times and seasons
which the Lord has placed in His own power, and withheld from men,
we are to yield ourselves to the control of the Holy Spirit, to do present
duties, to give the bread of life, unadulterated with human opinions,
to souls who are perishing for the truth.”—Ellen G. White, Selected
Messages, book 1, p. 186.
“Every individual is striving to become a center of influence, and
until God works for His people, they will not see that subordination to
God is the only safety for any soul. His transforming grace upon human
hearts will lead to unity that has not yet been realized, for all who are
assimilated to Christ will be in harmony with one another. The Holy
Spirit will create unity.”—Ellen G. White, Selected Messages, book 3,
pp. 20, 21.
 What does Ellen G. White mean when she says that “every
individual is striving to become a center of influence”? Why is that
such a natural tendency of all of us, and what can we do to fight
this tendency in our own lives? (See also Phil. 2:3, 4.)
 Some argue that what will really unite us is service, not doc-
trine. In fact, they argue that doctrine tends to divide people; thus,
it should not be made prominent. But why can’t there be unity
in mission and service if there is division in doctrine? Why is a
commonly shared faith a powerful factor for united and effective
mission?
 At the same time, how much room is there for theological dif-
ferences? Few people are going to understand truth in the same
way. How can we be united as a church while, at the same time,
allowing for minor differences that will arise? How do people in
your local church deal with differences in understanding and yet
still maintain unity?
 How can the Bible be an instrument that will bring unity?

What attitude is needed in our study of the Word of God so that
we can be united as a church in mission and in faith?
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i n s i d e
Story
The Newspaper Ad:
Part 2
Kim met some Christians who introduced him to a church. He attended
the worship services and enjoyed the music, but in time Kim realized that
the worship services were more about experience and feelings than about
reason and logic. He yearned for something more, something to satisfy his
mind as well as his spirit. He wondered whether he would always be search-
ing and never really finding.
Then Kim found the newspaper ad. He decided to attend the Bible
study meeting. Perhaps there he would find the answers he was looking
for.
Kim was amazed at what he learned during the Bible study. He never
realized the depth of God’s love and the plan of salvation. He continued
to attend and built his life on the truths he was learning. He discarded
the twisted philosophies that had clouded his understanding of God.
Kim realized that God was not only logical but the author of perfect
logic and meaning. His spiritual life grew as he studied for himself God’s
great truths.
Kim shared small bits of what he was learning with his family. They
listened politely, but he could tell that they weren’t really interested. Kim
has kept sharing, hoping that his family will eventually accept his faith
in God, just as they accepted his principles of healthful living.
Eight months after Kim found the newspaper ad, he was baptized into
Christ and joined the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Kim is learning
how to share his faith with others and how to find answers to his per-
sonal questions in his Bible. He enjoys sharing with others the truths he
has come to love and wants to help others find God as he has. He hosts
a weekly dinner and Bible study that 10 to 12 people attend.
The church in Denmark is small, and few are interested in religion.
But Kim wants to help the church grow. He continues to share truth and
testimony with his family, hoping that one day they will come to know
Jesus as he has.
Denmark is a small country made up of a peninsula and almost 500
islands. It lies south of Norway and Sweden. It’s a wealthy and modern
nation, and, as in most European countries, its people have lost their
sense of need for God.
This quarter a portion of your Thirteenth Sabbath Offering will help to
build an international evangelistic youth center in Oslo, Norway. To learn
more, visit www.adventistmission.org/mission-quarterlies.

teachers comments
The Lesson in Brief

The Student Will:

Know: Understand the Spirit-inspired principles of church unity. Discover
the relationship of his or her commitment to Christ, His Word, and His mis-
sion to the unity of the body of Christ.
Feel: Experience an attitude of humility toward others and submission to
the truths of Scripture as the foundation of unity.
Do: Choose to allow the Holy Spirit to eradicate self-interest for the larger
cause of the unity of the church.
Learning Outline:
I. Know: Understanding the Principles of Unity
A What is the role of the Holy Spirit in producing the unity of the church?
B How does our individual unity in Christ lead to a corporate unity
within the church—the body of Christ?
C Why do the Bible and doctrine play such critical roles in unifying the
church?
II. Feel: Preserving Unity

A How do our attitudes affect the unity of the church?
B What attitudes contribute to unity, and what attitudes contribute to disunity?
C Why is it not possible to have an experience of unity in the Holy Spirit
independent of the teachings of God’s Word?
III. Do: Practicing Unity

A What do the principles outlined in Acts 2:41–47 teach us about unity
in our local congregation?
B How can we, as a church, apply these principles more effectively?
Summary: When we respond to the promptings of the Holy Spirit to allow Jesus
to be both our Savior and our Lord, attitudes of pride and self-inflated
importance give way to humility and submission. The Word of God
becomes our guide, and service and witness become our passions. Unity
is the outgrowth of converted hearts, anchored in God’s Word and com-
mitted to Christ’s service.
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teachers comments
Learning Cycle
STEP 1—Motivate
Spotlight on Scripture: Ephesians 1:22, 23; 2:19–22
Key Concept for Spiritual Growth: One of the most important func-
tions of the Holy Spirit is to testify of, and give glory to, Jesus (John 15:26,
16:14). The Holy Spirit convicts us of sin, impresses us with the need of
a Savior, and reveals the matchless charms of Christ to us. It is through
the Holy Spirit that we are drawn to Christ. It is by the power of the Holy
Spirit that our hearts are changed, and it is through the Holy Spirit that
we are led into the body of Christ—the church. In His great intercessory
prayer in John 17, Christ earnestly prays for the unity of His church.
United to Christ—the Head of the church—we are united by the
same Spirit to one another. Just as the members of the body are
joined in an indivisible union, the members of Christ’s body are
united through the Holy Spirit in the church to Christ. Paul’s use of
the body as a metaphor of the church is a powerful illustration of the
unity Christ desires His people to have.
Just for Teachers: Both of the apostle Paul’s favorite illustrations

for the church—the body and a building—vividly speak of the close-knit
unity of believers. Through the Holy Spirit, we “are no longer strangers
and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the
household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles
and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom
the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the
Lord” (Eph. 2:19–21, NKJV). Think of a glorious stone church with one
handcrafted block tightly fitting in place beside the next block. Or think
of the pyramids, built of massive stones, many between two and two and
a half tons. Each block fits so perfectly into the next that you cannot even
place a piece of the thinnest paper between them. Paul describes God’s
church as a building with Christ as the Chief Cornerstone, so united, so
Spirit led that there is nothing between members. Each one gladly and
humbly fills his or her role. All are united to one another through the Holy
Spirit in God’s temple of eternal truth. Together, they give Him glory and
witness to the beauty of His truth.
Opening Discussion: In the book of Ephesians, the apostle Paul uses two
of His favorite metaphors to describe the unity of Christ’s church—the
human body and a glorious temple. Why do you think Paul chose these two
symbols? What is it about the human body that so clearly communicates
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teachers comments
unity? Think of the different functions of the body. The brain, the heart,
the lungs, and the stomach all have different functions. The eyes are
certainly different from the ears and nose. The feet have a decidedly
different function from the hands. If the body as a metaphor illustrates
more difference than sameness, how does that distinction help us to
understand the concept of unity? How can we be unified yet different?
What is the difference between unity and uniformity?

 How would you define unity? What is the very basis for unity in the
church?
 Why do you think that the apostle Paul uses both the body and a build-
ing to illustrate unity? Would one symbol be complete without the other? If
not, why not?
 What role does the Holy Spirit play in the unity of the church?
STEP 2—Explore
Just for Teachers: Although baptism is a symbol of union with Christ

in His death, burial, and resurrection, it is also a symbol of union with
Christ’s church (Acts 2:41, 1 Cor. 12:13). At baptism, the Holy Spirit
empowers and equips believers for their ministry in Christ’s church
(Acts 2:38, 39). United with Christ through baptism, we are united to one
another through the Holy Spirit in the body of Christ. We are baptized
into Christ, the Head, and the church, His body. Just as the body is com-
posed of varied members that have different functions yet contribute to
the well-being of the entire body, so the church is composed of different
members who, with their individual gifts, contribute to the health and
life of the church.
Baptism is a unifying element. It welcomes people of all cultural
backgrounds, ethnicities, and languages into fellowship with the liv-
ing Christ and His church.
Bible Commentary
I. Unity in the Church (Review Acts 2:41–47 and 1 Corinthians 12:13 with the class.)
The book of Acts is one of the most thrilling books in the entire Bible.
Seemingly against all odds, the New Testament church exploded in growth.
From a small group of fledgling believers in Acts 1, early believers grew to
become a mighty force in the Roman Empire. There were 3,000 added to
the church at Pentecost (Acts 2:41). The record states that another 5,000 men
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teachers comments
(Acts 4:4), in addition to women and children, were baptized shortly after this
initial baptism. Acts 6 adds that “the Word of God spread, and the number of
disciples multiplied greatly” (Acts 6:7, NKJV).
This powerful proclamation of the gospel created a strong reaction on the
part of the Roman authorities, but even persecution did not hinder the growth
of the church. “Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preach-
ing the word” (Acts 8:4, NKJV). There was cross-cultural growth. Cornelius,
a Roman centurion, was baptized with his entire family; an Ethiopian govern-
ment official accepted Christ; Lydia, a businesswoman from Thyatira, was
baptized in Philippi; and a Roman jailer accepted the gospel. Churches were
planted and multiplied throughout the Mediterranean world (Acts 9:31).
What led to this rapid growth? What elements did the Holy Spirit use to
bring the church together in such unity that the entire world was affected? Acts
2 reveals some profound insights about the unity of the early church. Note
carefully these principles in verse 42: “And they continued steadfastly in the
apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.”
These New Testament believers were united through their belief in the
truth of Scripture. Doctrine is a unifying element of Christ’s church. They
also were united in fellowship, prayer, and worship. The Holy Spirit leads us
to unity as we pray together, worship together, and enjoy one another’s social
fellowship. This unity in Christ and doctrine and fellowship led to a commit-
ment to mission and service. Ellen G. White shares this thought: “No longer
were their hopes set on worldly greatness. They were of ‘one accord,’ ‘of
one heart and of one soul.’ Acts 2:46; 4:32. Christ filled their thoughts; the
advancement of His kingdom was their aim. In mind and character they had
become like their Master, and men ‘took knowledge of them, that they had
been with Jesus.’ Acts 4:13.”—The Acts of the Apostles, p. 45.
Consider This: The New Testament church exploded in growth because these
early believers were committed fully to Christ, were united on the essentials
of biblical doctrine, and were focused on God’s mission of winning the lost.
A common church organization brought them together. Conflict gave way to
conquest, and personal animosity gave way to passionate vision to save the lost.
What principles can the Holy Spirit teach us from the unity of the early church
that can make a difference for the church today? How can each one of us, and
our local congregation, benefit from applying the principles of unity we have
discovered in this week’s lesson?
STEP 3—Apply
Just for Teachers: Lead your class in a practical discussion of how best
to achieve unity in a local church. With people of different backgrounds
and different viewpoints, how can a local congregation have true biblical
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teachers comments
unity? How do the elements of unity, as outlined in the book of Acts,

apply today? Discuss the role of each of these five foundational principles
of unity with your class: (1) the guidance of the Holy Spirit, (2) commit-
ment to Christ, (3) faithfulness to Scripture, (4) social fellowship, and (5)
a passion for witness and service.
 How can the unity of the church become a spiritual priority in each of
our lives?
 What can the church do to initiate a greater emphasis on unity?
 How might our Sabbath School class foster unity in our congregation?
STEP 4—Create
Just for Teachers: The Holy Spirit is a unifier not a divider. When
the church is torn apart by conflict and strife, typically it is not the
work of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit-inspired Word of God is the foun-
dation of all unity. When individuals arise, taking extreme theological
positions not firmly rooted in the Word, which bring division to the
church, we can be sure that the Holy Spirit is not leading them. The
Holy Spirit leads to conviction of personal sin, leads to personal duty,
fosters unity, shines light on Scripture, and inspires our witness to a
lost world.
Activities:
 This week meditate on this thought, Union with Christ unites us to
one another. Is there someone in the church with whom you do not feel in
harmony? What might you do to bridge the gap? Pray this week that God
will open the way for you to be reconciled to that individual.
 This week ask God to help you to be a peacemaker, an ambassador of good-
will, and a channel of blessing to foster the unity that Christ prays for in John
17.
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L esson 10 *March 4–10
The Holy Spirit, the Word, and

Prayer
Sabbath Afternoon
Read for This Week’s Study: John 15:7; Matt. 7:7; Ps. 66:18;
James 1:6–8; 1 John 5:14, 15; Acts 2:38.
Memory Text: “The Spirit also helps us in our weaknesses. For we do

not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself
makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit
is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will
of God” (Romans 8:26, 27, NKJV).
T
rue spirituality and prayer go together. There is no real spiritual
life without vigorous prayer. After the need for repentance, per-
haps one of the greatest and most urgent needs is a revival of
our prayer life. The good news is that even in our prayers we are not
left without the help of the Holy Spirit. Prayer draws us closer to God;
it lifts us up into His presence. The prayer of faith enables us to live
in response to the abundance of God’s promises. Our lives are trans-
formed when we claim the blessings God has promised in His Word.
God is more than able to supply all of our needs according to His riches
(Phil. 4:19). True prayer and authentic spirituality always have God at
the center of our attention, and both are rooted in His Written Word.
We should not be basing our spiritual lives on our unsteady experi-
ence and subjective feelings, nor focusing our prayers on suspect con-
templative and meditative practices. Rather, our spirituality has to be
guided by the Bible and to follow God’s will as revealed in His Word.
It is the Holy Spirit who awakens in us a desire to seek God’s presence
in prayer and to lift up one another in our supplications.

124
S unday March 5
Prayer That Is Pleasing to God

Even though clothed in pious cloaks, many prayers are guided by
questionable motives. We might pray that someone’s life be spared
because we do not like living alone. We might pray for success in God’s
work because we are playing an important role in it. We might pray for
the conversion of a person because then our life will be easier. Often
our prayers center more on what we want rather than on what God
wants. Prayer that is pleasing to God has a different focus.
Read John 15:7. Why is it important for our prayers that we abide in
Jesus and His Words abide in us? What other focus will our prayers
have if we don’t abide in Jesus?

To seek God first and to enjoy His companionship is more impor-
tant than anything else He might give to us. If God comes first in our
lives, we will want to do what He wants; His thoughts will shape our
desires. Once God is the center of prayer, we will begin to pray from
His perspective. We will start to see our whole lives through His eyes.
This perspective ennobles prayer.
God is deeply interested in us. He longs to be part of all aspects of
our lives: our worries, our fears, our wishes, our hopes, our desires, our
successes, our joys, our failures—everything. We can talk about these
things with Him as with a good friend. And we look at all of it through
His eyes.
Prayer does not change God; it changes us, because we are brought
into the life-changing presence of God.
“Prayer is the opening of the heart to God as to a friend. Not that it
is necessary in order to make known to God what we are, but in order
to enable us to receive Him. Prayer does not bring God down to us, but
brings us up to Him.”—Ellen G. White, Steps to Christ, p. 93.
What a powerful quote! It captures so much of the reality of what prayer
does to us and for us. Prayer alone makes us open receptacles for the grace,
the power, and the presence of God in our lives. Who hasn’t at some point
experienced the reality of how prayer can draw us closer to God?
Think about your prayer life—that is, what you pray for, when
you pray, why you pray, and so forth. What does it tell you about
your own spiritual state and your own relationship to God? What
changes might you need to make?
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M onday March 6
The Foundation of Biblical Prayer:

Ask God
Read Matthew 7:7. Before we can receive anything from God, we have
to ask for it. Why is our asking so important, since God knows
everything anyhow?

Asking reveals our desire and expresses our trust in God. Through
prayer we approach Him, from whom we seek support and help. When
we ask God, we also publicly give Him permission to become active
in our behalf. God wants to be asked. He desires that we bring to Him
our prayer requests. If we do not ask Him, we will not receive the gifts
He has promised. Jesus said: “ ‘Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and
you will find; knock, and it will be opened for you. For everyone who
asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks, it will
be opened’ ” (Luke 11:9, 10, NKJV).
Read Mark 11:24; 1 John 5:14, 15; and Psalm 66:18. Why is no prayer
request too big for God? Why is it good to know that God is gener-
ous and loves to give out of His abundance? What is the prerequi-
site for God to fulfill our prayers?

We truly can ask God for anything. No request is too small or u nimportant
for Him. No request is so big that God cannot handle it. He is omnipotent.
By faith we may claim every promise in the Bible and receive the promised
gifts from His hands according to His will (2 Cor. 1:20).
Yet, there are some conditions to be met in order to receive what
we are asking. If we are not willing to submit fully to God, and if our
requests reflect only our selfish and sinful desires, God will not answer
our prayers (see Isa. 59:1, 2). An important condition for the fulfill-
ment of our prayers is our willingness to follow God’s will and to be
obedient. “All His [God’s] gifts are promised on condition of obedi-
ence.”—Ellen G. White, Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 145. Knowing that
God is generous, we can come boldly to Him. “The Lord is not glori-
fied by the tame supplications which show that nothing is expected.
He desires every one who believes, to approach the throne of grace
with earnestness and assurance.”—Ellen G. White, Signs of the Times,
Aug. 7, 1901.
126
T uesday March 7

Believe
Read Mark 11:24. Besides asking, what other aspect does Jesus men-
tion in connection with prayer?

Asking alone is not enough. There is a second important aspect that
needs to be present in our prayers: faith. The book of Hebrews tells us
that “without faith it is impossible to please” God (Heb. 11:6, NASB).
When we kneel down before God and open the Bible to any of the more
than three thousand promises and then ask God, with the simplicity of
a small child, to fulfill His promises in our behalf, we have to believe
that He will do what is best for us in His time.
Read James 1:6–8. How does the text describe the person who lacks
faith? Why is faith a prerequisite to receiving the promised gifts?

If we come to God, we must believe that He exists and that He will
reward those who seek Him. Effectual prayer must be accompanied by
a belief not only that God can answer, but that He will do so according
to His divine will.
In the Bible, believing is related to trusting. We can trust someone only
when we know the other person to be trustworthy. When we entertain doubts
that God will keep His promises, we waver and cannot expect that we will
receive anything from Him. To believe means to take God at His word. It
means that we depend on God and His promises, even when our feelings tell
us otherwise. For “faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of
things not seen” (Heb. 11:1, NASB). Faith clings to God’s promises because
we trust what He has said (Heb. 11:11). Faith knows that “it is impossible for
God to lie” (Heb. 6:18, NASB). God is the same, yesterday, today, and forever
(Heb. 13:8). Faith knows that for God nothing is impossible (Luke 1:37).
Faith opens the door to the divine treasure-house. Through the Holy
Spirit, God moves the hearts of men and women to trust the Word of
God, and through faith, our prayers move the arm of omnipotence.
What helps you to grow stronger in faith? What aspect of Jesus

helps you to have confidence in His willingness and ability to help
you in your times of need?
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W ednesday March 8

Claim God’s Promises
All faith is useless if we do not claim the things for which we have
prayed.
Read 1 John 5:14, 15. What is the reason that we can be confident
that God hears us and that we receive what we have requested from
Him?

The third aspect of Bible prayer is reception. After asking God and
believing His promises, we need to claim what He has promised. We
claim God’s promise by returning thanks to God that we have received
it. Thus, the promises are applied to our hearts. Ellen G. White said
that “for any gift He has promised, we may ask; then we are to believe
that we receive, and return thanks to God that we have received.”
—Education, p. 258.
In Luke 8:11, Jesus compares the Word of God to a seed. In the
same way that the whole apple tree is contained in an apple seed, the
gift of God is contained in His promises. When we claim the promise
and thank God for it, we already possess the gift He has promised. We
receive the promised gift by faith even before we might feel or see it.
The example of the resurrection of Lazarus in John 11 illustrates
that Jesus prayed in this way. Jesus knew exactly what God’s will in
this situation was. John 11:11 tells us that He was willing to do God’s
will and that He was obedient. In John 11:39–41, we read that Jesus
thanked the Father in advance that He would resurrect Lazarus, even
though Lazarus was still in the grave. When Jesus had thanked God, He
did receive the fulfillment of His request. As God’s children we are to
live on God’s promises, not on His explanations. Even though we can’t
explain everything, we can trust His promises.
“The Lord says, ‘Call upon Me in the day of trouble.’ Ps. 50:15. He
invites us to present to Him our perplexities and necessities, and our
need of divine help. He bids us be instant in prayer. As soon as diffi-
culties arise, we are to offer to Him our sincere, earnest petitions. By
our importunate prayers we give evidence of our strong confidence in
God. The sense of our need leads us to pray earnestly, and our heavenly
Father is moved by our supplications.”—Ellen G. White, Christ’s
Object Lessons, p. 172.
Why is it so important to always bring everything to God in

prayer?
128
T hursday March 9
Praying for the Holy Spirit

Read Ephesians 3:16 and Acts 2:38. What do these texts tell us about
receiving the Holy Spirit in our lives?

There are many things we can pray for, but there is one great need in
this time of peril in which we live: it is the gift of the Holy Spirit. This
is the greatest gift that Jesus could give. In giving the Holy Spirit, God
could not have given His people more. To this gift nothing could be
added (after all, what could be added to Divinity Himself ?). Through
Him and His work in our lives, all our needs are supplied. The blessing
of the Holy Spirit will bring in its train all other blessings.
There is, however, one major obstacle—and that is ourselves,
because we are often unprepared to receive the Holy Spirit.
As in the days of the New Testament church, we have to realize that
we first need to repent and surrender our lives fully to Jesus. Yes, it is
only the prompting of the Holy Spirit that even allows us to do that.
However, when we respond to His prompting, then repentance for sin
is the firstfruit of the working of the Holy Spirit in our lives. In humility
and faith, we need to confess our sins so that He can cleanse us from
all unrighteousness. We need to understand just how fallen we are and
how much we need God and His grace in our lives. Without Him, we
are lost, dead in our sins, and doomed to eternal loss.
Thus, in earnest prayer, we will fulfill the conditions upon which
God has promised to give us His Holy Spirit. Then all we have to do is
to ask God, and He will gladly grant us His Spirit. “The heavenly Parent
is more willing to give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him than earthly
parents are to give good gifts to their children.”—Ellen G. White, Ye
Shall Receive Power, p. 284.
As with other spiritual things, the gift of the Holy Spirit is never an
end in itself. He is given to elevate Jesus, to reproduce Christ’s charac-
ter in our lives, and to enable us to serve others in building up the body
of Christ, the church. So any worship practice, public or private, that
elevates the Spirit above Jesus Christ is wrong. For it is through Jesus
that we “have our access in one Spirit to the Father” (Eph. 2:18, NASB).
Why is the gift of the Holy Spirit the greatest gift that Jesus could
give to us? What has been your experience with the reality of the
Holy Spirit in your life? How different would your life be without
this gift?
129
F riday March 10
Further Thought: Read Ellen G. White, “Asking to Give,” pp. 139–149,

in Christ’s Object Lessons. For a helpful collection of encouraging
promises, read Ellen G. White, God Has Promised (Washington, D.C.:
Review and Herald, 1982).
Without prayer, we would have no spiritual power in our lives,

because prayer connects us to the Source of that power. Without prayer
we would have no vital link with God. We would become empty ves-
sels who might have “a form of godliness” but would be devoid of the
power and promise of the gifts from on high. And, no question, as we
have seen all this week—we have been given wonderful promises about
God’s answering prayer. But what about the times when we don’t get
what we pray for, even when we have sought to meet all the conditions
to the best of our God-given ability? “But be not discouraged if your
prayers do not seem to obtain an immediate answer. The Lord sees that
prayer is often mixed with earthliness. Men pray for that which will
gratify their selfish desires, and the Lord does not fulfill their requests
in the way which they expect. He takes them through tests and trials,
He brings them through humiliations, until they see more clearly what
their necessities are. He does not give to men those things which will
gratify a debased appetite and which will prove an injury to the human
agent and make him a dishonor to God. He does not give men that
which will gratify their ambition and work simply for self-exaltation.
When we come to God we must be submissive and contrite of
heart, subordinating everything to His sacred will.”—Ellen G. White,
In Heavenly Places, p. 89.
 In what ways does prayer impact our whole spiritual exis-
tence? That is, what effect does prayer have on you when you
pray? In what ways are you different after you have prayed than
before you did?
 What do you say to someone who has prayed and prayed for
something and it hasn’t happened as the person had hoped and
prayed for, such as the healing of a sick child or the like? How do
we learn to trust God even in situations like this?
 In class, talk about your own experiences with prayer, and

about what it means to you. What have you learned about prayer
that could help others who might be struggling with understand-
ing the purpose of prayer?
 Why is it important to pray even if we don’t fully understand

how it all works?
130
i n s i d e
Story
Something Beautiful:
Part 1
Editor’s Note: In the following three-part story, Kim Laovin from
Stockholm, Sweden, tells how God transformed her life of misery into
something beautiful.
For 25 years, more than half my life, the first thing I did every
morning was inject heroin into my veins. I used heroin to get through
the day. Then one July morning I awoke and knew that I was done
letting drugs run my life. I knew I would get sick if I stopped taking
drugs, but I was determined to get clean.
Drugs were not only my life—they were my livelihood. I had a
lovely big house, owned a good car, and had lots of nice clothes. But
when I gave up drugs, the beautiful things around me seemed filthy
and disgusting. They had been purchased with drug money. I sold
or gave away everything. Then with only a suitcase of things left, I
moved to another town.
I suffered all the symptoms of withdrawal, but I refused to go back
on drugs. I knew if I could only tough it out long enough, I would
feel better. Weeks went by, and I was still very weak and tired. My
chest hurt, and I could not walk more than a block.
I went to the doctor, and after he examined me, he declared, “You
have a serious heart problem. Your heart is enlarged and is working
hard, but it is doing only half the work it should. The pain you feel is
angina. It is pain caused when the heart does not get enough oxygen.”
I realized that, ironically, the drugs I had been taking had masked
these symptoms for years.
The doctor gave me medicine and sent me home. But I had no real
home to go back to. I had been staying with a friend, but my friend
could not keep me forever. I was sick, lonely, and homeless. I started
calling my relatives. They were happy to hear from me and happy to
hear I was no longer taking drugs, but they had reasons why I could
not come and stay with them. Finally, an uncle took me in. He and
my aunt were kind and took me to see a nearby doctor.
“Have you taken the medicine you were prescribed?” the doctor
asked.
“No,” I admitted. “I have just kicked a drug addiction, and I don’t
want to become addicted to these drugs.”

teachers comments
The Lesson in Brief

Key Text: Romans 8:26, 27
The Student Will:

Know: Discern the absolute necessity of prayer and Scripture in living a
Spirit-filled Christian life.
Feel: Sense the need to experience more of the Holy Spirit’s presence
through prayer and Bible study.
Do: Cultivate a love for quiet times of communion with Christ through the min-
istry of the Holy Spirit in regularly scheduled times of prayer and Bible study.
Learning Outline:
I. Know: The Promise of the Spirit
A Why is the Holy Spirit’s presence so important in the Christian life?
B What relationship is there between prayer and Bible study and the
infilling of the Spirit?
II. Feel: The Presence of the Spirit

A How can we experience more of the Holy Spirit’s presence and power?
B How do you feel when you have a vibrant, meaningful devotional time
with God?
C How do you feel when you repeatedly miss your devotional time?
III. Do: The Power of the Spirit

A What specific things can you do to improve the quality of your devo-
tional life in order to live daily in the presence and power of the Holy Spirit?
B As we read the promises of Scripture, how can they become ours,
rather than something we have simply read in the Bible?
Summary: God longs to fill our lives with His Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is
Christ’s personal Ambassador and most precious Gift. As we spend time
with Jesus in prayer and in Bible study, with humble hearts and submissive
attitudes, He will fill us with His Spirit. As we surrender our lives to Christ,
believe His Word, and by faith claim His promises, we will live in His pres-
ence. The Holy Spirit will fill our lives. The secret of receiving the Holy
Spirit in the fullness of His power is not a secret at all. When we submit our
lives to Christ, we seek His glory, not our own. As we pray, believe, and claim
the promise of the Spirit, He will be poured out on us in abundant measure.
132
teachers comments
Learning Cycle
STEP 1—Motivate
Spotlight on Scripture: 1 John 5:14, 15
Key Concept for Spiritual Growth: Many Christians misun-

derstand the true purpose of prayer. We pray not just because we
want something for ourselves. We pray because we are so filled with
love for Christ, and so appreciative of what He has done for us, that
we long to have a relationship with Him. Being in His presence is a
delight. Enjoying His fellowship is our hearts’ desire. Prayer is the
environment in which Christ’s Spirit speaks to our hearts, and we
are drawn closer to Him.
When our hearts’ desire is to know Him, we are open to receive
His richest blessings. Our Lord is the Giver of all good gifts (Ps.
84:11, James 1:17). Just as a parent longs to give good gifts to his or
her children, our heavenly Father longs to give good gifts in abun-
dance to each one of us. By asking in faith, believing we will receive,
and claiming His promises, we become the recipients of Heaven’s
richest blessings.
Just for Teachers: One of the most meaningful ways to experience

a deeper devotional life is to blend prayer and Bible study. When we
pray, we are talking to God. When we read His Word, He is speaking
to us. Encourage your class to kneel before the Lord with their Bibles
open. Begin with a section of the Psalms or one of the Gospels. Suggest
that they read a portion of Scripture, and then silently talk to God about
what they have read. The Holy Spirit will impress their minds with
areas in their lives that need to grow spiritually. He will reveal insights
in God’s Word that draw them closer to Jesus.
Ellen G. White gives us this practical counsel: “If you search the
Scriptures with a meek and teachable spirit, your efforts will be
richly rewarded. ‘The natural man receiveth not of the things of the
Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know
them, because they are spiritually discerned.’ The Bible should be
studied with prayer.”—The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, June
4, 1889. Ask your class to follow this divinely inspired counsel of
combining Bible study with prayer this week, and report back to the
class next Sabbath on the difference it made in their devotional lives.
Opening Discussion: Although prayer is extremely meaningful to many

Christians, for others it is more duty than delight. It has become a monotony
133 133
teachers comments
of repeating the same phrases over again. God seems silent and far away.
What have you found to make your prayer life meaningful? Do you have
a favorite place to pray where you feel especially close to God? Do you
have a scheduled time to pray daily that you do not want to miss? What
are some aspects of your personal prayer life that you would like to share
with the class?
When we observe Jesus in prayer, we notice at least four things:
1. Jesus recognized that prayer was essential to His spiritual life.
Throughout the Gospels, we see Him in prayer often (Luke 11:1).
2. Jesus had specific places that He prayed and specific times to pray
(Mark 1:35).
3. Jesus regularly prayed aloud (Heb. 5:7, 8).
4. Jesus completely was surrendered to the Father’s will in all of His
prayers (Matt. 26:39).

 How can Jesus’ prayer life be a model for our own?
 Why is it important to blend prayer and Bible study?
 What role does faith play in answered prayer? Why do you think that
faith is so important in our prayer lives?
STEP 2—Explore
Bible Commentary
I. Praying for God’s Promises (Review 1 John 5:14, 15 with the class.)
In 1 John 5:14, John gives us this assurance: “Now this is the confidence
that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He
hears us” (NKJV). Notice where our confidence is. It is not in our prayers.
It is not in our good works or righteous deeds. It is not even in our faith. It
is in Jesus Christ. The passage says, “This is the confidence that we have
in Him.” Our confidence is in Christ who cannot lie and whose promises
are sure. We can have absolute confidence that what Christ has promised
He is able to accomplish.
134
teachers comments
-
The Greek word for “confidence” is parresia. The original meaning of this
word was freedom of speech—the freedom in any truly democratic society to
speak openly and boldly. In Heaven’s eyes, we have this perfect freedom. We
need hold nothing back or hide anything from the One who knows us best and
loves us still. God invites us to come to Him and speak freely about anything
that is on our minds.
In one of the most amazing passages ever written on prayer, Ellen G. White
states, “Keep your wants, your joys, your sorrows, your cares, and your fears
before God. You cannot burden Him; you cannot weary Him. . . . Take to Him
everything that perplexes the mind. Nothing is too great for Him to bear, for
He holds up worlds, He rules over all the affairs of the universe. Nothing that
in any way concerns our peace is too small for Him to notice. There is no
chapter in our experience too dark for Him to read; there is no perplexity too
difficult for Him to unravel. No calamity can befall the least of His children,
no anxiety harass the soul, no joy cheer, no sincere prayer escape the lips, of
which our heavenly Father is unobservant, or in which He takes no immediate
interest.”—Steps to Christ, p. 100.
We are encouraged to come boldly or confidently to the throne of grace
(Heb. 4:16). God is waiting for us to come. He is there, always listening,
delighted when His children come with their joys and sorrows, their hopes
and fears, and their victories and defeats.
John rightly states that the great principle of prayer is asking according to
God’s will. We do not pray, “Lord, Your will be changed,” but rather, “Lord,
Your will be done.” In his Bible commentary on the letters of John, William
Barclay states this concept succinctly: “In the last analysis the only true
prayer is the prayer which says, ‘Thy will be done,’ and whose only request
is for grace to accept that will and strength to do it.”—William Barclay,
The Letters of John and Jude, The Daily Study Bible Series (Philadelphia:
Westminster Press, 1960), p. 137.
Discussion Questions: What is the only true source of our confidence?

What does it mean to have full confidence in Christ when we pray? How does
the original meaning of the word confidence in the Greek help to deepen our
understanding of what it means to come to God without any fear or reservation?
What does it mean to pray according to God’s will?
STEP 3—Apply
Just for Teachers: Lead your class in a practical discussion on claim-

ing God’s promises. Invite your class members to share their favorite
promises from the Bible. You may want to ask someone to make a list of
your class’s ten favorite promises and share them with the entire class
next Sabbath.
135
teachers comments
Thought Questions:
 Why do you think God’s people often are more preoccupied with
getting something from God than knowing the God they desire some-
thing from?
 Although the Holy Spirit is in our midst, gently leading us to a deeper

experience with Jesus, why does He seem so far away at times? What can
we do to cultivate a keener awareness of the presence of the Spirit?
 Can you think of any promises in the Bible that do not need to be
prayed in this manner: “Lord, if it is Your will, I ask You to do this for me”?
 If God longs to give us His Holy Spirit even more than we long to
receive Him, why should we then pray for the outpouring of the Spirit?
 How might our local Sabbath School class place more emphasis on
praying for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on our own lives and on our
church?
STEP 4—Create
Just for Teachers: There is real spiritual strength when God’s people
seek the outpouring of the Holy Spirit together. The Holy Spirit came in
mighty power when the disciples prayed in unity. The New Testament
church was a praying church. Believers recognized their absolute inabil-
ity, without the power of the Holy Spirit, to face Satan’s temptations and
to accomplish Christ’s mission of evangelizing the world.
Individual Activities:
 This week choose one other Sabbath School class member with whom
you can share your favorite Bible promises.
 Ask God to guide you to a prayer partner with whom you can seek the
outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
136
Grieving and Resisting the

Spirit
Sabbath Afternoon
Read for This Week’s Study: Acts 7:51; Heb. 10:24, 25; Eph.
4:25–5:2; 1 Thess. 5:19–21; Mark 3:28, 29.
Memory Text: “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom
you were sealed for the day of redemption” (Ephesians 4:30, NKJV).
T
he Holy Spirit has the unique ability to lead sinners to an aware-
ness of their true sinful states. He also awakens in us a desire
to accept Jesus and His forgiveness of our sins. The Holy Spirit
possesses a matchless power to make us overcomers and to enable us
to reflect the beautiful character of Jesus.
At the same time, this powerful and mighty Holy Spirit can be
resisted by feeble sinners. He does not force Himself upon us.
Sin is very alluring, very appealing. Yet, it is highly deceptive and
leads to death. It is diametrically opposed to God and His pure holi-
ness and goodness. Reflecting this divine holiness, the Holy Spirit is
opposed to sin in every form, and He is grieved when we sin and are
unwilling to give it up. As powerful as the Holy Spirit is, His positive
impact can be quenched, and we can resist Him when we continue in
our sinful lives. The Gospels even tell us that there is one sin that can-
not be forgiven: blasphemy against the Spirit (Matt. 12:31, 32).
This week we will study biblical aspects that deal with grieving,
quenching, and resisting the Holy Spirit, and with the sin that will not
be forgiven.
137
S unday March 12
Resisting the Holy Spirit

Read Acts 7:51. What warning was given here, and how does it apply
to us today?

There are a number of sins specifically mentioned in Scripture as
sins against the Holy Spirit. Many of those sins are on the individual
level. However, there is also a corporate dimension involved, as we
can conclude from Acts 7:51. Stephen points out that his accusers are
stiff-necked, as were the rebellious Israelites when they worshiped the
golden calf (Exod. 33:3). They resisted the Holy Spirit because they
refused to listen to what the Holy Spirit would impress through God’s
prophets upon their hearts. This pattern of opposition to God and His
plan ultimately led some to reject the claims of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Instead of following Jesus, they made external worship a substitute for
obedience to the living Word of God.
It is an amazing thought that frail human beings, created by God and
dependent on Him, are able to resist the work of the Holy Spirit and
ultimately the grace of God. As powerful as God is, He does not force
Himself upon our free will. He respects our choices.
After all, if God wanted to force us to obey Him, why didn’t He do it
in Eden with Adam and Eve and thus spare the whole world the crisis
of sin? God has made us free beings, with the power to make moral
choices, either for life or for death, either for good or for evil. What a
sacred—and costly—gift we have each been given!
While everyone is responsible for his or her own decisions, we also
have a corporate responsibility: we should encourage one another to be
faithful, to obey God’s Word, and to stay close to Jesus (Heb. 10:24, 25).
We resist the Holy Spirit today when we resist the Word of God and
when we do not heed the message of His prophets.
It’s so easy to look back at ancient Israel and judge and criticize
them for all their mistakes. But what about our own poor choices?
How would you feel if they were made as public as were the mistakes
of ancient Israel?
What are ways we can help others toward “love and good works”?
How are you responsible for fostering “love and good works” in
others?

138
M onday March 13
Grieving the Holy Spirit: Part 1

Read Ephesians 4:30. Here Paul uses an imperative and admonishes
us not to grieve the Holy Spirit. What does it mean to grieve the
Holy Spirit?

The Holy Spirit is a personal being, not just a divine force. That is
why He can be grieved. But how do we grieve the Holy Spirit? Perhaps
we should remember that one of the tasks of the Holy Spirit is to open
our eyes to sin (John 16:8). He leads us to Jesus, who forgives our sins
and sanctifies us. After all, God’s Spirit is called “holy.” This means that
He hates sin. But He rejoices when we are obedient to God in all things,
and think and speak what is pure and holy. On the other hand, this also
means that He is grieved when we cherish anything that is unworthy
of our divine calling. Any determination on our part to hold on to sin
or to downplay the seriousness of sin grieves Him. Grieving the Holy
Spirit is a serious thing.
The context of Paul’s statement in Ephesians 4:30, about the grieving
of the Holy Spirit, deals with the lifestyle one lived before being con-
verted by Christ, and what came after that conversion. As new creatures
in Christ, we should be patient and gentle with each other, forbearing
one another in love, and diligently preserving the unity of the Spirit
in the bond of peace (Eph. 4:2, 3). Being renewed by the Spirit (Eph.
4:23), we are now following Christ, our new head (Eph. 4:15), and so
we do not walk in the vanity of our minds, as the Gentiles do (Eph.
4:17). Instead, we live a life that is pleasing to God (Eph. 4:24–31).
Whenever we allow any of the negative things mentioned in these
verses in chapter 4 to find room in our hearts, and when they manifest
themselves in our words and deeds, then the Spirit is sad and grieved.
Grieving the Holy Spirit means to spurn His sanctifying presence and
His life-transforming power because we continue to willfully sin.
The Holy Spirit is not indifferent to how we live. Read Ephesians

4:25–31, and list the specific moral behaviors that grieve the Holy
Spirit. Why is the Holy Spirit grieved by these things?

139
T uesday March 14
Grieving the Holy Spirit: Part 2

That the Holy Spirit can be grieved tells us that God is not indifferent
to us and what we do. God is affected by what we decide and how we live.
Read Ephesians 4:25–5:2. What are we told to do here, and how differ-
ent would our lives be were we to follow these biblical commands?

In positive terms: we delight the Holy Spirit when we speak the truth in
love; when we are angry about sin, but do not sin in our anger; when we
work with our own hands and use the product of our labor to do good for
the needy; when we speak in an edifying manner and impart grace to our
hearers; and when we are kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving.
If we claim to be Christians, yet live as though Christ had never
come and our lives are not affected by His leading and His love, then
we grieve the Holy Spirit. When we confess that we believe in the Truth
but contradict that confession by how we act and behave, we grieve
the Holy Spirit. Lack of moral integrity also grieves the Spirit. Our
outreach efforts must not be divorced from our ethical behavior. If we
live in such a way that others realize that we truly are His children and
reflect Jesus, we bring joy to the heart of God.
Read Ephesians 4:3, 4, 15, 16, 32. What do these texts reveal about the
communal aspects of living in the Spirit? How does a spirit-filled
life reveal itself in the community with other believers?

It is interesting that in Ephesians 4 there is also a distinct communal
aspect. The idea of unity is mentioned several times. Paul is concerned that
we maintain the unity of the Spirit because we live the life of God in the
context of “one another” (Eph. 4:32). How we relate to one another in the
church, “endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace”
(Eph. 4:3, NKJV), is a crucial part of not grieving the Spirit. How we treat
one another in the church, which is a temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor.
3:16, 17), really does matter to God. How we consider one another in the
body of Christ is of prime importance to God’s Spirit.
It’s fine to know the truth, the three angels’ messages (Rev.
14:6–12), but ask yourself this question: How do you treat others,
especially those who are under you or those who can do nothing
for you; that is, those who have nothing to offer you in return?
140
W ednesday March 15
Quenching the Holy Spirit

Read 1 Thessalonians 5:19–21. How can the Holy Spirit be quenched?

The word “quenching” suggests the idea of a fire. The same Greek
root word is used in 1 Thessalonians 5:19 and in Ephesians 6:16. This
suggests that something about the Holy Spirit is like a fire that we can
extinguish. We should remember that the Holy Spirit does two signifi-
cant things for us: He gives us knowledge of sin, and He gives us power
to overcome sin. Both are related to sanctification.
Through the Word of God, the Spirit tells us what we need to know in
order to live a holy life, and through His indwelling power He enables us
to change our lives according to this knowledge. One way we can avoid
quenching the Spirit is to “not despise prophetic utterances” (1 Thess.
5:20, NASB). Paul instructed the Thessalonian believers not to despise
prophetic utterances, and yet he called for their discernment (1 Thess.
5:21). While we are to be open to the Spirit in our congregational life
and should not quench the work of the Holy Spirit, we also need discern-
ment, because false teachings and false prophets will continue to plague
the church.
Not all spirits are benign. The Spirit-inspired Word of God, however,
is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path (Ps. 119:105). By it we have
a standard to measure even new prophetic utterances. In biblical times
such a lamp involved a burning wick that shed light before the feet of
those who walked in the night. The Bible tells us how to “walk in the
Spirit” (Gal. 5:25). We do that by surrendering ourselves to the teach-
ings of the Word of God and by obeying the promptings of the Holy
Spirit as He points us in the ways that we should live.
Many who profess to believe that the Bible is the Word of God inter-
pret it in ways that all but denude the Scriptures of any real authority,
robbing them of any real power in their lives. Also, when we despise
the Word of God and treat it with disrespect or neglect to apply it to
ourselves, we are snuffing out this lamp that is given to lead us on our
way and to stir our consciences toward good works.
Read 1 Thessalonians 4:7, 8. What does it mean to be called “in

holiness” (NKJV)? In what areas of your life might you need to
ask yourself if, indeed, you are acting “in holiness”?

141
T hursday March 16
Blasphemy Against the Holy Spirit

Read Mark 3:28, 29; Luke 12:10; and Matthew 12:31, 32. If all sins
and blasphemies can be forgiven, what is it that cannot be forgiven?

Perhaps no other sin has caused greater uncertainty and anguish
among Christians, and has been more misunderstood, than has the
blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. Some think that Jesus has in mind
some specific sins that are particularly grievous. We do well to remind
ourselves, however, that all sins are heinous to God, even though some
sins might have more drastic consequences than do others. But what did
Jesus mean when He spoke about the unforgivable sin?
Actually none of these texts say that this sin cannot be forgiven; just
that it will not be forgiven. Let’s remember: the work of the Holy Spirit
is to lead sinners to an awareness of their sin and to awaken in them the
desire to accept Jesus, who alone forgives sin. Blasphemy against the
Holy Spirit, therefore, must be understood as the deliberate and per-
sistent repudiation of Jesus’ saving work. It occurs when an individual
willfully and obstinately resists the Spirit’s testimony of Christ and His
salvation and grace.
Jesus isn’t talking about someone uttering a few slanderous words.
Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is committed only in the context
of an attitude of persistent unbelief and open hostility toward Jesus.
Blaspheming the Holy Spirit is not a single episode; it is a determined
way of life.
“In the place of receiving the evidence offered them, in the place
of recognizing in Christ’s works the endowment of heaven, they held
right on to their wicked purposes, and said, He performed this wonder-
ful work through the devil. This was the sin against the Holy Ghost.”
—Ellen G. White, Loma Linda Messages, p. 156.
When the human heart is settled in stubborn opposition to God and,
thus, consciously refuses to give Jesus His due—the heart is hardened
and fails to acknowledge the truth of the Holy Spirit’s testimony to
God’s saving sacrifice in Jesus Christ. This sin is beyond the possibility
of forgiveness—not because God is powerless or unwilling to forgive,
but because the person is not able to recognize his or her sin. Therefore,
he or she does not accept forgiveness through Jesus. This attitude, of
course, has eternal consequences.
How can we be sure that, regardless of whatever we profess about

ourselves, we are not living in opposition to God and resisting the
Holy Spirit? (See, for instance, 1 John 5:3 and Rom. 8:14.)
142
F riday March 17
Further Thought: The mere fact that people anxiously ask whether
they have sinned the unforgivable sin reveals that they most surely
haven’t. If they had committed it, they certainly wouldn’t be worrying
about it. Their worry is all the evidence they need that, indeed, they are
still open to the Spirit’s leading. What the person should do is claim the
righteousness of Jesus, and, clinging to Jesus’ merits, press on ahead in
faith and obedience. Only under the covering of Christ’s righteousness,
which is the “righteousness of God” Himself (Rom. 10:3), can they have
the peace and assurance that they so sorely lack now.
There is, really, only one person God cannot forgive, and that is
the person who persistently refuses to come to Jesus for forgiveness.
“The sin of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit does not lie in any sud-
den word or deed; it is the firm, determined resistance of truth and
evidence.”—Ellen G. White Comments, The SDA Bible Commentary,
vol. 5, p. 1093. “No one need look upon the sin against the Holy Ghost as
something mysterious and indefinable. The sin against the Holy Ghost
is the sin of persistent refusal to respond to the invitation to repent.”
—Page 1093.
 If someone were to come to you in fear that they had com-
mitted the unpardonable sin, what would you say, and what texts
would you use to help? Why is an understanding of salvation by
faith alone so crucial when helping someone who feels he or she is
hopelessly lost?
 We quench the Holy Spirit when we refuse to act or speak as

He leads. Where are we in danger of quenching the Holy Spirit?
That is, in what aspects of our lives (if any) do we find ourselves
resisting God’s leading, and how can we learn to make the needed
surrender?
 Sometimes God allows certain circumstances to come into our

lives that we resent or that we don’t understand. Such was the
case, for instance, with Job. Why can a resentful mind-set dampen
the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives? How can we trust God
more fully and submit our lives completely to Him, even during
the most difficult times?
 Fearful of being “tainted” by what they feel are corrupt influ-

ences in the church, some pull away completely from the body and
strike out on their own. What’s wrong with that idea, and why is it
not the biblical model for a Christian to follow?
143
i n s i d e
Story
Part 2
“I understand your concern,” the doctor said. “But these are
good drugs. They will help you, and they are not addictive. Tell
me: What have you done in your lifetime that you really, really
enjoyed?”
I thought hard. “Well, once my uncle and I went on a long hike
for more than 100 miles in northern Sweden. It was wonderful.”
The doctor promised me that if I took the medicine, I would one
day be able to take that hike again. I went home willing to try.
Three months later, I could walk my uncle’s dog in the forest and
enjoy it.
One day when I was out walking, I found a little cabin on a lake.
I inquired and found that while it had no electricity or running
water, I could rent it for less than what I had spent each day when I
was on drugs. I moved into the two-room cabin and soon was busy
carrying water and other supplies. Somehow I found this simple
lifestyle attractive and comforting.
When I returned to the doctor, he was pleased with my progress.
He told me that he and his wife had been praying for me. Then I
learned that he was a Seventh-day Adventist. I borrowed a Bible
from a friend and started reading it. If it was God who had helped
me get over drugs, then I needed to know Him better. I started
in Genesis and read about 100 pages, until I bogged down in
Numbers and put it aside.
The doctor told me about a health rehabilitation center run by
Adventists and suggested I go there to regain my strength and
energy. I fell in love with the place and the people. Many of the
patients were Adventists, and they talked about what Jesus was
doing in their lives. This rekindled my desire to know God better.
I had never gone to church, except to attend an occasional wed-
ding or funeral, but I started attending the Adventist church at the
rehabilitation center. I was impressed by the Bible study. I wanted
what these people had; I wanted to be a Christian too. But I did
not understand that I could just be a Christian. I thought there were
some things I had to do before I could become a Christian.

teachers comments
The Lesson in Brief

Key Text: Ephesians 4:25–32
The Student Will:

Know: Examine what it means to avoid rejecting the claims of the Spirit on
his or her life.
Feel: Appreciate the promptings of the Holy Spirit, and sense anew the
ways in which the Holy Spirit works in his or her life.
Do: Resolve to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s working and to respond
to His promptings.
Learning Outline:
I. Know: Avoid Grieving, Resisting, or Quenching the Holy Spirit.
A How can we avoid grieving the Holy Spirit?
B What does it mean to resist the Spirit’s promptings?
C Why does Paul use the expression “Do not quench the Spirit”? What
picture does this expression raise in your mind?
II. Feel: Developing a Sensitive Conscience Toward the Promptings of the Spirit
A How can the promptings of the Holy Spirit make us aware of our need
for spiritual growth?
B Why is ignoring the promptings of the Holy Spirit so destructive in
the Christian life?
III. Do: Responding to the Promptings of the Holy Spirit

A How can we develop positive attitudes of receptivity to the Holy
Spirit’s promptings?
B What attitudes inhibit the working of the Holy Spirit in our lives, and
what practical steps can we take to avoid such thoughts and feelings?
C What can we do to avoid the pitfall of having an oversensitive con-
science and living in a state of fear and guilt?
Summary: The right understanding of the ministry of the Holy Spirit leads us to
be sensitive to His claims, responsive to His promptings, and submissive
to His will. In understanding that the Holy Spirit is the Third Person of the
Godhead and Christ’s personal Gift to each Christian, we love Jesus so much
that we would not want to do anything that would grieve, resist, or quench
the Spirit’s working in our lives.
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teachers comments
Learning Cycle
STEP 1—Motivate
Spotlight on Scripture: Acts 7:51
Key Concept for Spiritual Growth: The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
are in the salvation business. God longs to save His people, whether
they recognize it or not. He longs to save them, whether they respond
to His love or not. Throughout the Old Testament, God repeatedly
sent His prophets and inspired messengers to His people. In these
prophetic utterances and heaven-born communications, He appealed
to them. In spite of the strongest and most urgent appeals, the reli-
gious leaders rejected these divine messages.
Once again, in this generation, God appeals to us through His
Spirit and urges us to respond to the promptings of the Spirit and to
learn from the lessons of the past.
Just for Teachers: In this week’s lesson, help your class members to be
sensitive to God’s promptings through the Holy Spirit. Encourage
them to develop sensitive attitudes toward the ministry of the Spirit
in their own lives. Carefully outline what it means to grieve, resist, or
quench the Holy Spirit. Highlight the fact that the Spirit’s prompt-
ings are not to instill guilt; they are to lead us to Jesus, the Source
of all freedom from guilt. They are not to shackle us in the chains of
legalism; they are to free us to enjoy the life of faith by imparting to
us the power to obey.
This week’s lesson is of vital importance in understanding the
essential role of the Holy Spirit in preparing a people for the coming
of Jesus and getting them ready for translation.
Opening Discussion: A number of years ago, a young man in his mid-

twenties attended one of Pastor Mark Finley’s evangelistic meetings in
the northeastern part of the United States. Eventually, he accepted Jesus
Christ into his life and was deeply moved by the new truths he learned.
As he was preparing for baptism, he sensed an overwhelming desire to
make something right in his life that had occurred a number of years
before.
This young man had been involved in a robbery in the city. Along
with a gang of teenage friends, he broke into a home and stole some
audio and stereo equipment. Now after his conversion, he was con-
victed he needed to make things right. In consultation with Pastor
Finley, he developed a plan. Pastor Finley agreed to approach the
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teachers comments
family and share the young man’s conversion story, letting them know
that the young man was willing to reimburse them for the goods that
were stolen.
The family was overwhelmed at the thought that this young man was
willing to make restitution. They were impressed that his conversion was
genuine and forgave him all of his debts. Imagine the peace and joy that
flooded into this young man’s life as he heard the good news.
Let’s suppose this young man had ignored the promptings of the
Holy Spirit. Would his feelings of guilt have gone away? Would they
have disappeared because he ignored them? How can we tell that we
are being moved by the Holy Spirit and not prompted by an overzealous
conscience?
Here is an important fundamental principle of how the Holy Spirit
works. The Holy Spirit always convicts us of something specific. When
we confess our sins, they are forgiven (1 John 1:9). If you feel guilty
before you confess your sin, it is because the Holy Spirit is leading you
to confess it. If you feel guilty after you have confessed your sin, it is
because the devil wants to keep you from enjoying the fruits of forgive-
ness.
If you have a vague feeling of unworthiness, this shame is also often
the devil’s way of robbing you of your assurance in Christ. Because we
desire to have a “conscience void of offence toward God, and toward
men” (Acts 24:16) and a positive Christian witness toward any that we
have wronged, we are sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s promptings to make,
where possible, restitution for our offenses (Matt. 5:23, 24).
STEP 2—Explore
Just for Teachers: The major theme of this week’s lesson is sensitivity to
the promptings of the Holy Spirit. Be sure to emphasize the impor-
tance of knowing and listening to the voice of the Holy Spirit in living
a life of peace, freedom, and joy as a Christian.
Bible Commentary
I. Grieving the Holy Spirit (Review Ephesians 4:25–32 with the class.)
In Ephesians 4, the apostle Paul lists a litany of behaviors that grieve the
Holy Spirit. Among those he includes are lying, anger, dishonesty, evil
speaking, bitterness, wrath, and anger. If these traits grieve the Holy Spirit,
wouldn’t you think that the Spirit would convict us of these tendencies and
empower us to overcome them? One of the prime functions of the Holy
Spirit is to get us ready for heaven. He longs to replace dishonesty with
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teachers comments
integrity, an angry spirit with a calm demeanor, a critical tongue with kind
words, coarseness with kindness, and bitterness with forgiveness.
The word grieve in Ephesians 4:30 is the Greek word lupeo, meaning
to cause pain. It is an appeal to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s prompt-
ings and to no longer bring pain to the heart of God by known, willful sin.
Because it is not possible to grieve a force or something without per-
sonality, this passage, among many others, is clear evidence of the divine
personality of the Holy Spirit. To grieve the Holy Spirit is to resist His
claims and reject His pleadings. This continual grieving, resisting, and
rejecting can lead to the unpardonable sin.
The unpardonable sin is mentioned three specific times in the Gospels
(Mark 3:28, 29; Luke 12:10; Matt. 12:31). In Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus
succinctly states, “ ‘Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will
be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven
men’ ” (Matt. 12:31, NKJV). Notice Jesus’ clear emphasis. Every sin will
be forgiven. The unpardonable sin is not a type of sin. It is not adultery,
murder, lying, or stealing. It is knowingly resisting the claims of the Holy
Spirit, refusing to repent, and continuing to cling to sin in spite of know-
ing better.
The unpardonable sin does not occur because God stops loving us. It
occurs because an individual’s heart becomes so hardened that the per-
son no longer loves Him. It is not that God will not forgive; it is that the
individual no longer desires forgiveness. It is not that God’s heart is no
longer tender toward the sinner; it is that, through persistent resistance
and refusal to yield to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, the sinner’s heart
is no longer tender toward God.
Here is a simple way to think of the unpardonable sin. It is a state in
sin wherein an individual no longer desires or wants salvation, has hard-
ened his or her heart against God through willful rebellion, and is now
incapable of responding to the strongest appeals of the Holy Spirit and
affirmations of God’s love.
Consider This: How do we grieve the Holy Spirit? What is the unpardonable
sin? We need never fear committing the unpardonable sin while desiring
salvation. However much we long to be saved, God longs more for us to be
saved. The function of the Holy Spirit is to draw us daily to Christ in order to
receive the precious gift that He longs to give us. How does He empower us
to be more like Jesus every day?
STEP 3—Apply
Just for Teachers: Lead your class in a practical discussion on how to be

sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit. Discuss each of the varied func-
tions of the Holy Spirit—to convict of sin, to testify of Jesus, to guide and
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teachers comments
strengthen believers, to instruct in righteousness, to empower our wit-

ness. How can we respond to the Spirit’s leading in each of these areas?
 How can an awareness of the ministry of the Holy Spirit become an inte-
gral part of our daily lives?
 How can we receive the spiritual advantages the Holy Spirit so freely offers?
 In what ways can we encourage one another to be more conscious of the

working of the Holy Spirit?
STEP 4—Create
Just for Teachers: The Holy Spirit is Christ’s personal Representative,

our Ally in the battle between good and evil, our Friend and Companion,
our Counselor and Guide. Encourage your class to pray this simple
prayer often:
Holy Spirit, faithful Guide, ever near the Christian’s side;
Gently lead me by the hand, a pilgrim in a desert land.
My weary soul forever rejoices, while I hear that sweetest voice,
Whispering softly, “Wanderer, come, follow Me, I’ll guide thee home.”
Ever present, truest Friend, ever near Your aid to lend,
Leave us not to doubt and fear, groping on in darkness drear.
When the storms are raging sore, hearts grow faint and hopes give o’er.
Whispering softly, “Wanderer, come, follow Me, I’ll guide thee home.”
—Adapted from the song “Holy Spirit, Faithful Guide,” by Marcus
Morris Wells.
Activities:
 Do you have a favorite song about the Holy Spirit? Why is this song
meaningful to you? Look through the Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal for
songs about the Holy Spirit, and share aloud a verse that speaks to your
heart.
 What name or function of the Holy Spirit do you most appreciate or
admire?
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The Work of the Holy Spirit
Sabbath Afternoon
Read for This Week’s Study: John 16:8–11; Rom. 5:10; Heb.
4:15, 16; 1 Pet. 5:8, 9; 1 John 5:12, 13; Ps. 31:24.
Memory Text: “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and
peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the
Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13, NASB).
A
s we come to the end of our study this quarter on the Holy Spirit
and spirituality, we will focus on one other decisive work of the
Spirit that has not yet received our attention.
When Jesus announced to the disciples that He would go to the
Father, He promised to send them the Holy Spirit. “ ‘But the Helper,
the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach
you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to
you’ ” (John 14:26, NKJV).
According to Jesus, the Holy Spirit is a parakletos, that is, a “Helper”
or “Comforter” or an “Advocate” who intercedes for us. At the same
time Jesus also announced the work that this Advocate would do: He
will “convict” the world concerning sin and righteousness and judg-
ment (John 16:8, NKJV).
During our final week we will study in more detail this specific
work of the Holy Spirit. We also will learn how this work of the Spirit
is related to two other important aspects of His ministry for us: our
assurance of salvation and the glorious hope that propels our life as
disciples of Jesus Christ.
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S unday March 19
Conviction of Sin
Read John 16:8, 9. What crucial work does the Holy Spirit do for us,
and why is this so important?

Jesus has called the Holy Spirit the paraclete, a word rich in meaning
and one that conveys the idea of helper, advocate, and comforter. The
Holy Spirit does not enter into this important work of conviction as the
accuser of the brethren or as our prosecutor. He is sent by Jesus not to
condemn us but, rather, to help us see our need of grace.
Only a comforter will be received as a helper. It is a great tragedy
that Christians, however well-intentioned, often approach sinners with
an accusing spirit rather than a helping one. If we go around pointing
out sin in the lives of other people, then we do something that Jesus has
not called us to do. After all, who are we to point out sin in others when
we are hardly sinless ourselves?
Read Romans 2:1 and Matthew 7:3. What message must we take from
these verses?

We are His witnesses, not His prosecutors. We are called to be
witnesses of His redemptive power, not to condemn others for their
wrongs. In trying to convict other people of their sins, we assume a
work that is not ours; it is the work of the Holy Spirit.
It is the Comforter—not us—who shall “convince” (John 16:8, RSV)
the world of what sin really is. People who have not committed their
lives to Jesus often have no real sense of what sin truly is, and just how
destructive it can be.
The idea here is not that the Spirit will list specific erroneous acts.
Instead, He goes to the most fundamental sin of all: unbelief in Jesus
Christ (John 16:9). Our deepest misery and alienation consists not in our
moral imperfection but in our estrangement from God and our refusal to
accept the One whom God has sent for the purpose of rescuing us from
this condition.
The fundamental problem of all sin is that we do not believe in Jesus,
and, thus, reject the only One who can save us from our sin and guilt.
This is the sin that puts self at the center of things and refuses to believe
the Word of God. Only the Holy Spirit can open our hearts and minds
to our great need of repentance and of the Redemption that is found
through Christ’s death in our behalf.
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M onday March 20
The Need of Righteousness

John 16:8 said that the Holy Spirit will convict the world, not just of
sin but also of righteousness. In other words, the world, which does not
know what sin really is, does not know what true righteousness is either.
Unconverted people imagine that external morality will suffice. They
desire not the righteousness of God but their own righteousness. They
desire a righteousness that comes from their outward acts, such as
obedience to the law of God. But our acts of obedience to the law can
never justify us before God.
In Isaiah 64:6, the prophet describes all self-made righteous acts of the
people of his day as “filthy rags.” Even our best religiously motivated,
self-perceived righteousness is in fact the opposite: unrighteousness.
But the righteousness of Jesus is sufficient for us. It meets all the
claims of the law of God. It counts with God the Father. And we can
claim it for ourselves through faith in Jesus Christ alone.
Read Romans 5:10 and Hebrews 4:15, 16. How is our righteousness
related to Christ’s living ministry in the presence of the Father in
heaven?

The righteousness that is demanded by the law is fulfilled by Jesus’
perfect life. He died in our behalf. Although rejected by those who put
Him to death here on earth, He was welcomed by the Father in heaven.
By means of the Resurrection, God the Father placed the stamp of
His approval upon Jesus’ life and redemptive work. Now Jesus lives
to intercede for us (Heb. 4:15, 16), and He applies the merits of His
death in our behalf because we do not have the righteousness needed
for salvation.
Thus, we can live because He lives in us. “I have been crucified with
Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life
which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved
me and gave Himself up for me” (Gal. 2:20, NKJV). When Jesus lives
in us, we walk by the Spirit (Rom. 8:4), and receive new spiritual life
through the power of the Spirit (compare with Gal. 3:2–5; 5:16, 18).
The Father’s exaltation of Jesus in heaven is revealed in Christ’s pow-
erful presence among us through the Spirit. Empowered by the Holy
Spirit, His disciples live in growing conformity to Christ.
Have you experienced the reality of just how filthy your own
attempts at righteousness really are? What does this teach you
about your need of Christ’s righteousness instead?
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T uesday March 21
Conviction About Judgment

Read John 16:8, 11. What judgment is Jesus referring to? Why is this
judgment good news?

There remains one last great conviction that is part of the work of
the Spirit: the conviction about judgment. Here is where much of our
preaching on this passage seems to go in a wrong and harmful direction.
Often a discussion of sin and righteousness seems to lead many professed
Christians to pronounce warnings about the judgment on those who
reject Christ. In doing so, they want to warn sinners, often with fearful
overtones, of the future judgment that awaits them.
And although that judgment is a reality, this is not what Jesus talks
about in John 16:11. The language indicates that the Lord is not talking
about future judgment, as He did in John 12:48. Instead, the aspect of
the judgment that Jesus now refers to is the good news that Satan has
already been judged at Calvary. The devil, the great enemy of truth, is
now living on borrowed time. Judgment will come, but the focus here
is on an awareness that the prince of this world now already stands con-
demned (John 12:31).
Read 1 Peter 5:8, 9. How is Satan described by Peter? How can we resist
him?

The devil, knowing that his time is short and that he has been fatally
defeated at Calvary, is nevertheless still alive. And he is furious, trying to
devour as many as he can. But he is a defeated enemy. Jesus has won the
victory. The blood of Jesus makes us free.
When, during World War II, the Nazi troops received the decisive blow
with the successful Allied invasion of France on June 6, 1944, it was clear
that Hitler was defeated. Yet, the eleven months between D-Day (when
the attack was initiated) and VE Day (May 8, 1945, when the war ended
in Europe) were the bloodiest of all. Similarly, Satan knows that he was
decisively defeated at the cross. Yet, he stubbornly fights and tries to
devour as many as he can. In these challenging times we are called to be
sober and alert and to cast all our anxiety upon Jesus, because He cares
for us (1 Pet. 5:7, 8).
Why is judgment good news? Who is our surety in the judgment?
How can we preach about the judgment in such a way that we
instill hope rather than fear?

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W ednesday March 22
The Assurance of Salvation

Read 1 John 5:12, 13; Romans 8:15–17; and 2 Corinthians 5:5. Once
we have accepted Christ as our Savior, why can we have the assur-
ance of eternal life? What is the basis for this assurance?

The Holy Spirit is the One who leads sinners to Jesus. Jesus’ substitu-
tionary death has reconciled us with God. Jesus’ forgiveness sets us free
to live new lives as God’s adopted children. Now we are no longer God’s
enemies (Rom. 5:10), but we walk according to the Spirit (Rom. 8:4), and
set our thinking on the things of the Spirit (Rom. 8:5). If we did not have
the Spirit of Christ, we would not be His children and would not belong
to Him (Rom. 8:9). But now we have the internal testimony of the Holy
Spirit, who dwells in us. He testifies to us that we belong to Jesus and that
we are heirs of God and heirs with Christ (Rom. 8:17). The same powerful
life that raised Jesus from the dead is now active in us and makes us, who
were spiritually dead, alive (Rom. 8:10). Even more than that, He also seals
in our hearts the assurance that we truly belong to God. Having heard and
believed the gospel of our salvation, we are sealed in Jesus with the Holy
Spirit, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance (Eph. 1:13, 14, NASB).
Every believer may have this certainty (1 John 5:12, 13).
Read Ephesians 1:13, 14. What does it mean to be sealed by the Spirit?

Those who accept Christ are born again; that is, born “ ‘of the Spirit’ ”
(John 3:3, 5). The Holy Spirit seals this fact in our hearts so that we
can have assurance of being saved, and experience the joy that comes
from being a child of God. The Holy Spirit identifies us as belonging
to Christ. “If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not
belong to Christ” (Rom. 8:9, NIV). We now have a consciousness that
God is our loving Father and we are His dear children. The Holy Spirit
is the down payment, the deposit, or the pledge toward the ultimate gift
of eternal life and immortality that will be given to us at Jesus’ second
coming (1 Cor. 15:51–54). This is the hallmark of authentic faith. It
is difficult to see how Christians can witness with convincing power
without having such assurance.
“Talk courage, talk faith and hope, and you will be all light in the
Lord. Keep thinking of the open door that Christ has set before you,
that no man can shut. God will close the door to all evil, if you will give
him a chance. When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the
Lord will lift up for you a standard against him.”—Ellen G. White, The
Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, April 16, 1889.
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T hursday March 23
The Holy Spirit and Hope

Read Romans 5:4, 5; 15:13; and 1 Corinthians 13:13. How are love
and hope related to each other? How is the Holy Spirit instrumen-
tal in giving us love and hope?

The Holy Spirit is the One who has poured out the love of God within
our hearts. He connects us to God and makes God’s love dwell in us.
God’s steadfast and unchanging love is the reason and the bedrock of
our hope. Without love there would be no hope. Only love generates
hope. Because God’s love is combined with His faithfulness, we have
the wonderful hope that He will come again and take us home to where
He is.
Read Psalm 31:24. What effect does hope have on us?

Hope inspires. Hope gives new strength. Hope lets us sing and be joy-
ful. Hope is essential for life. Without hope, what is the purpose of life?
Having hope, however, is something different from being optimistic.
The optimist thinks that everything will get better: the weather, the
economy, the school grades, the finances, et cetera. Hope, instead, is
not blind optimism. Rather, it is grounded in God’s faithfulness and in
the promises that He has given in the past. Hope believes that God will
fulfill what He has said because He is faithful and true. God has proven
to be dependable, and He does not waver. His steadfastness and truth
are the foundation for our hope.
No question: the foundation of our hope is found in Jesus on the
cross. When we look to the cross, we can see in the most powerful way
possible the reality of God’s love for us. The Cross, with Jesus dying
for our sins, gives us and the universe an unparalleled revelation of
just what our God is truly like. Thus, as fallen and temporal beings
in a vast cosmos, we can find hope, not in ourselves or in whatever
“great” things we accomplish but in our God—a God who has revealed
Himself to us on the cross.
How is the Advent hope grounded in God’s faithful promises?

How does hope influence our lives? How can we develop a life-
style that reflects hope instead of despair?
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F riday March 24
Further Thought: Read selections of Ellen G. White, Ye Shall

Receive Power, especially the October section, “Ready for the Spirit,”
pp. 283–313.
We can summarize the activity of the Holy Spirit by saying that

the Holy Spirit works harmoniously together with God the Father and
God the Son to accomplish our salvation. The Holy Spirit awakens us
from our spiritual death. He leads us to an awareness of our sinfulness
and opens our eyes to the fact that we are in and of ourselves lost. He
kindles in us the desire for change and leads us to Jesus Christ, who
alone can meet the needs of our innermost being. He gives us assurance
of salvation because He always points us to Jesus and to what Jesus has
done for us. He conforms us to be more like Jesus. He keeps us faithful
in our walk with God. He enables us to fulfill God’s will and effectively
engage in mission. He generates the Written Word of God as our safe
guide and norm for our Christian life and doctrine. Where would we
be without the Holy Spirit? What could we do without the Holy Spirit?
We would be miserable and lost and could do nothing that would give
God the glory and honor. Thanks be to Jesus for having promised and
sent the Holy Spirit. “The Holy Spirit was the highest of all gifts that He
could solicit from His Father for the exaltation of His people.”—Ellen G.
White, Ye Shall Receive Power, p. 13.
 Dwell more on the questions of what is sin and what is righ-
teousness. Why should we, as Christians who believe in the Bible
as the Word of God, have a different understanding of what sin
and righteousness are than do those who don’t believe in the
Bible? What are those differences? What does the Bible teach us
about sin and about righteousness that other sources do not?
 Share with the members of your Sabbath School group what

aspect of the work of the Holy Spirit has been most valuable to
you. Why was it so important, and how has this impacted your
life?
 In class, talk about the hope that we have in Jesus. What are
the reasons for this hope? That is, if someone were to ask about
the “reason for the hope that is in you” (1 Pet. 3:15, NKJV), what
answer would you give, and why? How convincing an argument
could you make?
 The lesson this week talks about the question of assurance of

salvation. What is assurance of salvation? And if we have it, why
do we have it? On what must it be based? And how does it differ
from presumption?
156
i n s i d e
Story
Part 3
While I was at the rehabilitation center, I spent a lot of time think-
ing about straightening out my life. I had committed some crimes
while I was selling drugs, and this knowledge weighed on me. When
I left the rehabilitation center, I went to the police and confessed that
I had driven a getaway car while a friend committed a robbery. During
the robbery, my friend had killed someone, making me an accessory
to murder.
I was arrested and sentenced to five years in prison. My friend
was imprisoned for life. Other prisoners treated me badly when they
learned that my confession had put my friend in jail. It took a long
time for them to accept me.
While I was in prison, I asked a Seventh-day Adventist pastor to
visit me. He came often, and we studied the Bible together. I accepted
Jesus as my Savior during this time. Other church members also vis-
ited me, and soon I had more letters and visitors than anyone, thanks
to the spirit of family among the Adventist members. I tried to pass
the love that they showed me on to other prisoners when I could.
Some of the prisoners were not Swedish citizens. They would
serve their time without visits from loved ones. When the Adventists
learned about these people, they visited them and helped them with
practical needs, and when the prisoners left prison, the church mem-
bers kept in touch with them. Some of these women asked, “What
kind of church do you belong to that cares about others like this?”
I was glad my Adventist friends followed through with these needs.
Some of these prisoners joined a Bible study correspondence course,
and others joined my prayer group. Now that they have been released,
I pray that they will search for God.
I had a checkup because of my heart problem. The doctor per-
formed the test three times before she called in another doctor. He
performed the test again, and then asked me for my name. “We were
not sure you were the same patient, because your heart is normal size
and is working perfectly. I see no health problems here at all. Your
angina is completely gone.”
When I was released from prison, God provided work for me and a
place to live. As I look back, I realize that God saved me from myself,
saved my life from death, and then He made everything in my life so
beautiful.

teachers comments
The Lesson in Brief

The Student Will:

Know: Rejoice in the “Comforter,” who brings strength and hope into his
or her life, as well as the assurance of salvation.
Feel: Nurture a deepening sense of the Spirit’s presence in daily living.
Do: Resolve to listen to the convicting voice of the Holy Spirit, allowing
Him to reveal Christ’s righteousness in his or her life.
Learning Outline:
I. Know: The Spirit’s Work
A What is the difference between conviction and accusation? How do
you feel when you are convicted to do something? How do you feel when
you are accused of doing something?
B What does it mean that the Holy Spirit convicts us of sin? Is there a
difference between sin (singular) and sins (plural)?
II. Feel: The Spirit’s Desire

A How can conviction of sin make us feel our need for Christ’s righ-
teousness?
B Why is a lack of knowledge regarding the ministry of the Holy Spirit
so detrimental to our Christian lives?
III. Do: The Spirit’s Goal

A What is the Spirit’s ultimate goal in our lives? How can we cooperate
with the Holy Spirit in making that goal a reality?
B How can we receive the hope, assurance, and strength that the
Scriptures promise to give us through the ministry of the Holy Spirit?
Summary: The Holy Spirit’s goal is to lead us to an intimate relationship with

Jesus and place within our hearts the guarantee of eternal life in Jesus
Christ, our Lord. He does this marvelous work by convicting us that, apart
from Christ, we are lost. Sin is not merely something we do; it is a state of
being. The Holy Spirit reveals who we are and who Jesus is and what He
means to us. The Spirit testifies of Jesus’ righteousness, goodness, grace,
and power. He draws us to Jesus in whom we have the gift of eternal life
and the assurance of eternity.
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teachers comments
Learning Cycle
STEP 1—Motivate
Spotlight on Scripture: Romans 15:13
Key Concept for Spiritual Growth: The Holy Spirit is a precious

gift sent by Jesus to encourage, support, and strengthen us in our
Christian life. Jesus promised His disciples that He would give
them “ ‘another Helper, that He may abide with you forever’ ”
(John 14:16, NKJV). He would not leave them “ ‘orphans’ ” (John
14:18, NKJV). In the Person of the Holy Spirit, Jesus would be
with His disciples. Unfettered by time and space, He would be
accessible to all. In fact, He would be nearer to them than if He
never ascended on high.
Ellen G. White makes this remarkable statement: “At all times
and in all places, in all sorrows and in all afflictions, when the out-
look seems dark and the future perplexing, and we feel helpless and
alone, the Comforter will be sent in answer to the prayer of faith.
Circumstances may separate us from every earthly friend; but
no circumstance, no distance, can separate us from the heavenly
Comforter. Wherever we are, wherever we may go, He is always at
our right hand to support, sustain, uphold, and cheer.”—The Desire
of Ages, pp. 669, 670.
The Holy Spirit is our Friend, our Ally, our Comforter, our
Encourager, our Teacher, our Strength, and our Guarantee of eter-
nal life.
Just for Teachers: This lesson is our last of the quarter and an excel-
lent time to review some of our past lessons. Remind your class that
the Holy Spirit is the Third Person of the Godhead, not some vague
shadowy force, some impersonal being, or indefinable power that
proceeds from God. As the personal Representative of Christ, the
Holy Spirit is there to help us in our journey heavenward. He convicts
of sin and reveals our need of a Savior; but He also shines a spotlight
on Christ’s righteousness in all of its luster and beauty.
It is the revelation of the righteous character of Christ and His
unconditional love for us that leads us to long to be like Him and
to surrender to the claims of the One who promises never to let us
go. The Holy Spirit is our Teacher, guiding us to understand the
magnificence of grace, the glory of the Cross, and the wonder of
the atonement. Through the ministry of the Holy Spirit, we are
159 159
teachers comments
impressed with, and led to accept, Christ as our all-loving Savior

and all-powerful Lord.
Opening Discussion: Imagine the confusion and bewilderment of the

disciples when Christ told them that He was going away. What must
they have thought when He informed them that He would soon ascend
to the Father? Certainly, they must have felt anxious, worried, uncertain,
confused, and perplexed. They could not understand fully what He meant
when He told them He would send the Comforter to them. It was not until
later, when the Holy Spirit came in the fullness of His power at Pentecost,
that they began to understand the meaning of Jesus’ words. Then, sensing
the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, they understood the meaning
of Christ’s words, “ ‘It is to your advantage that I go away’ ” (John 16:7,
NKJV).
Jesus’ promise of the Holy Spirit is just as much for us as it was for
these New Testament believers. His promise is not limited. The Holy Spirit
longs to fill our lives with His presence.

 Ask your class members to describe a time when they felt the power
of the Holy Spirit in their lives. What circumstances led to this experi-
ence?
 What special times of closeness to Jesus have your students had?
What were their devotional lives like at this time? Invite class members
to share times when the Holy Spirit obviously has been present in their
lives.
STEP 2—Explore
Just for Teachers: The major theme of this quarter’s lessons is the
Holy Spirit’s role as the Third Person of the Godhead to convict us of
sin, reveal Christ’s righteousness in all of its beauty, inspire us with
hope, guide us into divine truth, and continually impress our hearts
with a longing for heaven.
This week’s lesson highlights these themes. It focuses especially on
the Holy Spirit’s role in each of our lives in extremely practical ways.
Bible Commentary
I. The Role of the Holy Spirit (Review John 16:8–11 with the class.)
In John 16:8–11, Jesus lists three major roles of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit
160
teachers comments
“ ‘will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment’ ”

(John 16:8, NKJV). Let’s explore each of these terms a little more deeply.
Notice that Jesus does not say that the Holy Spirit will convict the world of
their sins, plural, but of sin, singular. Now do not misunderstand; the Holy
Spirit certainly does convict us of our sins or acts that are not in harmony with
God’s will. But the intent of this passage is something deeper.
Here sin is used as a state of being. It is not necessarily merely what we do.
It is who we are. We are born with fallen human natures into a state of sin. We
are sinners both by birth and by choice. The Holy Spirit reveals our desperate
state without Christ. Left to ourselves, we have no hope of salvation. We are not
only sinners. We are in a lost condition with no possibility of salvation without
a Savior.
Praise God! The Holy Spirit does not leave us in this hopeless state. He not
only convicts us of sin, but He also convicts us of righteousness.
The word for righteousness used here in the original language is dikaiosyne, -
which is Christ’s own righteousness. His righteousness is the source and stan-
dard of all righteousness. The Holy Spirit convicts us of our sin, our unworthi-
ness, and our absolute lost condition without Christ. He then reveals to us the
perfection of Christ’s righteousness and the wonder of His grace. The Spirit
nurtures faith within our hearts to receive Christ’s righteousness as our own and
to live as children of God, adopted into Heaven’s family through grace.
The last expression in our trio of the Spirit’s convictions is judgment. Jesus
explains why the Holy Spirit convicts us of judgment in John 16:11 by stating,
“ ‘Of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.’ ” On the cross, Jesus
triumphed over the principalities and powers of hell (Col. 2:15). Satan is a
defeated foe. Jesus has overcome. The victory over evil, death, and the grave is
won. The Holy Spirit reveals to us that we are on the winning side.
Consider This: “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in

Christ Jesus” (Rom. 8:1, NKJV). Outside of Christ, there is no way we can
pass the final judgment; but in Christ, through Christ, and by Christ, there
is no way we can be lost. Christ won the battle for our salvation on Calvary.
How does the Holy Spirit lead each one of us into the assurance of salvation?
What role does the Holy Spirit play in leading us to accept the righteousness
of Christ? Why is the ministry of the Holy Spirit so vital in the life of each
Christian?
STEP 3—Apply
Just for Teachers: Lead your class in a practical discussion on what

it means to live a Spirit-filled life. Make a list of all the things the Holy
Spirit promises to do in our lives. Discuss this list with your class. Why is
each one of these things important in our Christian experience?
161
teachers comments
 What are some of the different names of the Holy Spirit? How are
these names important to you?
 In what specific ways does the Holy Spirit inspire us with hope?
 How is hope different from optimism? In what is the hope that the Holy
Spirit gives us grounded?
STEP 4—Create
Just for Teachers: When we respond to the promptings of the Holy

Spirit, He will break down every barrier that stands between Jesus and
us, and lead us to rejoice in the salvation our Savior so freely offers.
Activities:
 Pass out an index card to each member of your class, and ask them to
write down the most significant thing they discovered in class about the
Holy Spirit this quarter and the difference it will make in their lives. Give
them three to five minutes to write two or three sentences. (Or instead of
writing things down, allow students to ponder the question prayerfully.)
An example of what they might write is listed below:
“This quarter I was reminded again that the Holy Spirit is the personal
Representative of Christ, who is ever longing to draw me nearer to Christ.
I was impressed with the thought that Jesus is present with me daily
through the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit.”
 Invite your class members to share with the class the testimonies
they have written down or meditated upon.
162
2017 Bible Study Guide for the Second Quarter
In our study guide for next quarter, titled Feed My Sheep: 1 and 2 Peter, by
Robert McIver, we will be reading the words of Peter, who was with Jesus at
most of the important moments in His ministry. Peter also was a prominent
leader among the earliest Christians. These facts alone would make his letters
worth reading. But these letters take on added interest given that they were
written to churches that faced persecution from without and the danger of
false teachers arising from within.
First and Second Peter also have practical words on how Christians should
live. First and foremost, Christians should love one another (1 Pet. 4:8). Peter
sums up his view by saying, “Finally, all of you, have unity of spirit, sympathy,
love for one another, a tender heart, and a humble mind” (1 Pet. 3:8, NRSV).
Peter’s epistles are a fervent proclamation of the gospel, the central mes-
sage of the Bible. If anyone knew the saving grace of the Lord, it was Peter.
This same Peter—who so openly denied His Lord, saying, “I do not know the
Man” (Matt. 26:74, NKJV)—was the same one who was later told by Jesus:
“Feed my sheep” (John 21:17). These two epistles are examples of Peter
doing just that: feeding the Lord’s sheep.
Lesson 1—The Person of Peter
The Week at a Glance:
Sunday: Depart From Me! (Luke 5:1–9)
Monday: Confessing the Christ (Matt. 16:13–17)
Tuesday: Walking on Water (Matt. 14:22–33)
Wednesday: Denying His Lord (Luke 22:31–33, 54–62)
Thursday: Peter as Church Leader (Acts 2:14–36)
Memory Text—Matthew 14:30, 31
Sabbath Gem: Peter knew what it was to make mistakes, to be for-
given, and to move on ahead in faith and humility. Having experienced
for himself the grace of God, Peter remains a powerful voice for us all,
who need to experience the same grace, as well.
Lesson 2—An Inheritance Incorruptible

The Week at a Glance:
Sunday: To the Exiles (1 Pet. 1:1)
Monday: Elected (1 Pet. 1:2)
Tuesday: Key Themes (1 Pet. 1:3–12)
Wednesday: Living the Life of Salvation (1 Pet. 1:13–21)
Thursday: Love One Another (1 Pet. 1:22–25)
Memory Text—1 Peter 1:22
Sabbath Gem: As we will soon see, even in the first few verses,
Peter has a lot of important truth to reveal to us today, centuries
removed from when he wrote.
Lessons for the Visually Impaired The regular Adult Sabbath School
Bible Study Guide is available free each month in braille and on audio CD to sight-
impaired and physically handicapped persons who cannot read normal ink print. This
includes individuals who, because of arthritis, multiple sclerosis, paralysis, accident, and
so forth, cannot hold or focus on normal ink-print publications. Contact Christian Record
Services for the Blind, Box 6097, Lincoln, NE 68506-0097. Phone: 402-488-0981; e-mail:
info@christianrecord.org; Web site: www.christianrecord.org.
163
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Contents

1 The Spirit and the Word—December 31–January 6 5

2 The Holy Spirit: Working Behind the Scenes—January 7–13 18

4 The Personality of the Holy Spirit—January 21–27 44

5 The Baptism and Filling of the Holy Spirit—January 28–February 3 57

6 The Holy Spirit and Living a Holy Life—February 4–10 72

7 The Holy Spirit and the Fruit of the Spirit—February 11–17 85

8 The Holy Spirit and the Gifts of the Spirit—February 18–24 98

9 The Holy Spirit and the Church—February 25–March 3 111

11 Grieving and Resisting the Spirit—March 11–17 137

12 The Work of the Holy Spirit—March 18–24 150

Editorial Office 12501 Old Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, MD 20904

Principal Contributor Associate Editor Pacific Press® Coordinator

The teachers edition components were written by the following:

The Spirit and the Word

Memory Text: “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and

* Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, January 7.

The Holy Spirit and Revelation

God used human beings to proclaim His Word to the world.

The Holy Spirit and Inspiration

Read 2 Peter 1:21, Deuteronomy 18:18, Micah 3:8, and 1 Corinthians

The Holy Spirit and the Truthfulness

Why is it so crucial to submit our own judgment to the Word of

The Holy Spirit as Teacher

“Many contradictory opinions in regard to what the Bible teaches

The Holy Spirit and the Word

Further Thought: Read Ellen G. White, “The Scriptures a Safeguard,”

 We often hear the word truth used in a variety of contexts. In

 How should your church react if someone claims to have “new

Produced by the General Conference Office of Adventist Mission.

The Lesson in Brief

The Student Will:

II. Feel: Approaching the Bible With an Attitude of Humility

III. Do: Experiencing the Power of the Word

Spotlight on Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16, 17

Questions for Discussion:

Just for Teachers: There is a difference between revelation and

The Holy Spirit: Working

* Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, January 14.

The Elusiveness of the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit at Creation

The Holy Spirit and the Sanctuary

After the act of Creation, God’s plan of salvation is of prime impor-

Considering the power of the Holy Spirit, He certainly didn’t

The Holy Spirit in Glorifying Jesus Christ

Why is it so important for us to uplift the risen Lord in all that

The Holy Spirit and Christ

Read Luke 24:44–49; Galatians 5:16–23; and Ephesians 4:23, 24.

How does the work of reproducing the character of Christ in our

Further Thought: No question, the work of the Holy Spirit is crucial

Ryszard Jankowski, now president of the West Polish Conference, was

Produced by the General Conference Office of Adventist Mission.

The Lesson in Brief

The Student Will:

B How is the working of the Holy Spirit a divine mystery?

III. Do: Glorifying God

Opening Discussion: Nicodemus came to Jesus by night. We need

Questions for Discussion:

The Divinity of the Holy

* Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, January 21.

The Holy Spirit and God

The Holy Spirit’s Divine Attributes

1 Cor. 2:10, 11; compare with Isa. 40:13, 14_______________________

Ps. 139:7 _________________________________________________

How can we learn to be more fervent, diligent, and self-