The Gifts of the Spirit, October 13

Truths That Stand Out

Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.... The manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. 1 Corinthians 12:1, 7.FLB 292.1

Paul declares that the gifts and manifestations of the Spirit were set in the church ... “till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.” Ephesians 4:13.^{51The Great Controversy, viii, ix.}FLB 292.2

All men do not receive the same gifts, but to every servant of the Master some gift of the Spirit is promised.^{52Christ's Object Lessons, 327.}FLB 292.3

The Lord has need of all kinds of skillful workmen. “He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.” Ephesians 4:11, 12.^{53Testimonies for the Church 6:291.}FLB 292.4

In immediate connection with the scenes of the great day of God, the Lord by the prophet Joel has promised a special manifestation of His Spirit. Joel 2:28. This prophecy received a partial fulfillment in the outpouring of the Spirit on the day of Pentecost; but it will reach its full accomplishment in the manifestation of divine grace which will attend the closing work of the gospel....FLB 292.5

At this time the special endowment of divine grace and power is not less needful to the church than in apostolic days.^{54The Great Controversy, ix, x.}FLB 292.6

God will today endow men and women with power from above, as He endowed those who on the day of Pentecost heard the word of salvation. At this very hour His Spirit and His grace are for all who need them and will take Him at His word.^{55Testimonies for the Church 8:20.}FLB 292.7

The gifts are already ours in Christ, but their actual possession depends upon our reception of the Spirit of God....FLB 292.8

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.^{56Christ's Object Lessons, 327, 328.}FLB 292.9