Possibilities are surely ours as we believe in God's promises that He not only commissioned us to preach the gospel to the world but He had also provided us gifts to be used for His glory. This week's SSLesson will inspire us to work for God's cause. The following are to be considered, A. Who receives them? B. Who gives them? C. What's their purpose? D. How can I know my gifts? E. How can my gifts grow?

Memory Verse:

But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. {1 Cor. 12:11}

Prayer Thought:

In His great mercy God has spoken words of encouragement to the children of men. To all who repent and turn to Him, He offers abundant pardon. Repentance for sin is the first fruits of the working of the Holy Spirit in the life. It is the only process by which infinite purity reflects the image of Christ in His redeemed subjects. In Christ all fullness dwells. He teaches us to count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus our Lord. {PC 65.2}

This knowledge is the highest science that any man can reach. It is the sum of all true science. "This is life eternal," Christ declared, "that they might know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent." {PC 65.3}

A. Who Receives them?

“But now indeed there are many members, yet one body.” {1 Corinthians 12:20}

1. God's Order and Harmony

“It is by the Lord’s orders that His servants have varied gifts. It is by His appointment that men of varied minds are brought into the church, to be laborers together with Him. We have many different minds to meet, and different gifts are needed. God’s servants are to work in perfect harmony.” {This Day With God, September 10}

2. Law of the Divine Government

He who truly seeks for the precious grace of Christ, will be sure not to be disappointed. This promise has been given to us by Him who will not deceive us. It is not stated as a maxim or a theory, but as a fact, as a law of the divine government. We can be assured that we shall receive the Holy Spirit if we individually try the experiment of testing God's word. God is true; his order is perfect. "He that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened." Light and truth will shine forth according to the desire of the soul. O that all would hunger and thirst after righteousness, that they might be filled! {RH, May 5, 1896 par. 1}

• Paul compared the members of the Church to those of a human body. In this comparison, the Church is the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12-27).

• All the members of the body have a purpose, and there are no Church members without gifts.

• All have received at least one spiritual gift. We must work together to use those gifts to share the love and truth of Christ with the whole world.

• There are no dispensable or useless members. Those preaching to crowds are as valuable as those praying silently.

B. Who Gives Them?

“But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.” {1 Corinthians 12:11}

1. By His Spirit

The Saviour knew that no argument, however logical, would melt hard hearts or break through the crust of worldliness and selfishness. He knew that His disciples must receive the heavenly endowment; that the gospel would be effective only as it was proclaimed by hearts made warm and lips made eloquent by a living knowledge of Him who is the way, the truth, and the life. The work committed to the disciples would require great efficiency; for the tide of evil ran deep and strong against them. A vigilant, determined leader was in command of the forces of darkness, and the followers of Christ could battle for the right only through the help that God, by His Spirit, would give them. {AA 31.1}

2. Rich Measure of His Spirit

Since this is the means by which we are to receive power, why do we not hunger and thirst for the gift of the Spirit? Why do we not talk of it, pray for it, and preach concerning it? The Lord is more willing to give the Holy Spirit to those who serve Him than parents are to give good gifts to their children. For the daily baptism of the Spirit every worker should offer his petition to God. Companies of Christian workers should gather to ask for special help, for heavenly wisdom, that they may know how to plan and execute wisely. Especially should they pray that God will baptize His chosen ambassadors in mission fields with a rich measure of His Spirit. The presence of the Spirit with God's workers will give the proclamation of truth a power that not all the honor or glory of the world could give. {AA 50.2}

3. Christ will lead to the Threshold of the Infinite

Let the glorious conceptions of God possess your mind. Let your life be knit by hidden links to the life of Jesus. He who commanded the light to shine out of darkness is willing to shine in your heart, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit will take the things of God and show them unto you, conveying them as a living power into the obedient heart. Christ will lead you to the threshold of the Infinite. You may behold the glory beyond the veil, and reveal to men the sufficiency of Him who ever liveth to make intercession for us. {COL 149.3}

The Bible explains that every perfect gift comes from God. The Holy Spirit is giving them as He considers best {James 1:17}.

Why can’t we choose our gifts?

When we surrender our hearts to Jesus, God gives us the most appropriate gifts, so they can be used effectively to make the Church grow.

C. What's the Purpose of Spiritual Gifts?

"for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:12)

1. To Advance His Cause in the World

The knowledge of truth, the heavenly wisdom, spiritual endowments, are heaven's goods committed to us for wise improvement. We have no time or strength or goods to use for selfish purposes. By using God's gifts as sanctified and holy to advance his cause in the world, we can lay up treasure in heaven. {17MR 59.2}

2. Building a Strong Symmetrical Character

The Christian must build all the foundation if he would build a strong symmetrical character, if he would be well balanced in his religious experience. It is in this way that the man will be prepared to meet the demands of truth and righteousness, as they are represented in the Bible; for he will be sustained and energized by the Holy Spirit of God. He who is a true Christian combines great tenderness of feeling with great firmness of purpose, with unswerving fidelity to God; he will in no case become the betrayer of sacred trusts. He who is endowed with the Holy Spirit has great capacities of heart and intellect, with strength of will and purpose that is unconquerable. Ellen G. White. Dec. 28, 1891. {SpTA02a 25.1}

3. All to Speak as the Voice of One

The sword of the Spirit, which cuts both ways, is to be in the hands of God's servants. His inspiration is to be upon them, leading them All to Speak as the Voice of One. {ST, February 7, 1900 par. 4}

The Holy Spirit will work with the consecrated human instrument; for this is God's purpose. God has opened a door between heaven and earth, which no power can close. He calls upon every human being to be pure, holy, sanctified, in order that the work for this time may be accomplished. When God's people place themselves in proper relation to Him and to one another, there will be a full impartation of the Holy Spirit for the harmonious combination of the whole body. {ST, February 7, 1900 par. 5}

There are lists of gifts given to the first believers in Romans 12:6-8, 1 Corinthians 12:8-10, 28-30 and Ephesians 4:11.

There are more gifts in addition to those first ones, like editing pictures and video, piloting aircrafts, managing social networks…

Spiritual gifts are not natural talents. However, the Holy Spirit can sanctify natural talents and put them in service of Christ (becoming spiritual gifts).

D. How Can I Know My Gifts?

So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: {1 Corinthians 1:7}

1. Every Soul, Every Gift: to be laid Under Contribution to God

"The gifts of speech, of knowledge, of sympathy and love, communicate a knowledge of Christ. All these gifts are to be converted to God. The Lord stands in need of them; he calls for them. All are to act a part in preparing their own souls and the souls of others to dedicate their talents to God. Every soul, every gift, is to be laid under contribution to God. All are to co-operate with God in the work of saving souls. The talents you possess are given you of God to make you efficient co-laborers with Christ. There are hearts hungering for sympathy, perishing for the help and assistance God has given you to give to them. Our churches are sickly, because they do not do their appointed work. They are not as God would have them be. O, that they would awake from their lethargy! {RH, June 21, 1898 par. 28}

2. Gift of the Spirit is Promised to All

“All men do not receive the same gifts, but to every servant of the Master some gift of the Spirit is promised. […] If they are connected with Christ, if the gifts of the Spirit are theirs, the poorest and most ignorant of His disciples will have a power that will tell upon hearts. God makes them the channel for the outworking of the highest influence in the universe.” {FILB October 13}

3. Skill in Common Arts, God's Gift.

Skill in the common arts is a gift from God. He provides both the gift, and the wisdom to use the gift aright. When He desired a work done on the tabernacle, He said, "See, I have called by name Bezaleel, the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah; and I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship."--Letter 60, 1907. {3MR 359.2}

We all have received gifts… which ones do you have?

The best way to find them out is to “get on with it”. Begin working in a ministry in your local church. That way you will find out if you have the right gifts for that work or not. Let’s define some concepts:

— Gifts: Special skills (e.g. teaching with ease)

— Ministries: General fields of service (e.g. Sabbath School)

— Activities: Specific events (e.g. leading a Sabbath School class)

E. How can my Spiritual Gifts Grow?

“For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away.” {Matthew 25:29}

1. Secure Spiritual Growth

As with life, so it is with growth. It is God who brings the bud to bloom and the flower to fruit. It is by His power that the seed develops, "first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear" (Mark 4:28). And the prophet Hosea says of Israel, that "he shall grow as the lily" (Hosea 14:5). "They shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine" (verse 7). And Jesus bids us "consider the lilies how they grow" (Luke 12:27). The plants and flowers grow not by their own care or anxiety or effort, but by receiving that which God has furnished to minister to their life. The child cannot, by any anxiety or power of its own, add to its stature. No more can you, by anxiety or effort of yourself, secure spiritual growth. The plant, the child, grows by receiving from its surroundings that which ministers to its life--air, sunshine, and food. What these gifts of nature are to animal and plant, such is Christ to those who trust in Him. . . . {LHU 70.4}

2. Daily Diligence Needed.

Temptation must be met and resisted. Day by day the spiritual battle goes on. Day by day we are to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling. It is God that works in us, to will and to do of His good pleasure. Every soul is to strive with "all diligence" to add constantly to his spiritual attainments, strengthening every grace, increasing in efficiency that he may grow in usefulness and holiness, as a fruit-bearing tree in the Lord's garden. He is to be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. True religion leads to the cultivation of the gifts that make a man more precious in God's sight than the gold of Ophir. {7BC 943.7}

3. The Grace of Christ always promote Spiritual Life

It is no real evidence that you are a Christian because your emotion is stirred, your spirit stirred by truth; the question is, Are you growing up into Christ, your living head? Is the grace of Christ manifested in your life? God gives his grace to men, that they may desire more of his grace. God's grace is ever working upon the human heart, and when it is received, the evidence of its reception will appear in the life and character of its recipient; for spiritual life will be seen developing from within. The grace of Christ in the heart will always promote spiritual life, and spiritual advancement will be made. We each need a personal Saviour, or we shall perish in our sins. Let the question be asked of our souls, Are we growing up into Christ, our living head? Am I gaining advanced knowledge of God, and of Jesus Christ whom he hath sent? We do not see the plants grow in the field, and yet we are assured that they do grow, and may we not know of our own spiritual strength and growth? {RH, May 24, 1892 par. 5}

In the parable of the talents, Jesus explained that everyone receives gifts, but some people receive more than others (Matthew 25:14-30).

However, that’s the starting point only. We can “negotiate” with our initial gifts.

They will grow as we use them, and we may also receive new gifts. Be careful, as we may lose our gifts if we don’t use them.

Ask God to show you which gifts He’s given you and how you can use them. No matter how many gifts you’ve received, but what you do with them.

From the Pen of Inspiration:

“To His servants Christ commits ‘His goods’—something to be put to use for Him. He gives ‘to every man his work.’ Each has his place in the eternal plan of heaven. Each is to work in co-operation with Christ for the salvation of souls. Not more surely is the place prepared for us in the heavenly mansions than is the special place designated on earth where we are to work for God.” {COL 326}