Bible Readings for the Home Circle Part 50

1. Concerning what subject ought we to be informed?

"Now _concerning spiritual gifts_, brethren, I would not have you ignorant." 1 Cor. 12:1.

2. When Christ ascended, what did He give to men?

"Wherefore He saith, When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive [margin, a mult.i.tude of captives], and _gave gifts unto men_." Eph. 4:8.

3. What were these gifts that Christ gave to men?

"And He gave some, _apostles_; and some, _prophets_; and some, _evangelists_; and some, _pastors_ and _teachers_." Verse 11.

4. How are these gifts elsewhere spoken of?

"And G.o.d hath set some in the church, first _apostles_, secondarily _prophets_, thirdly _teachers_, after that _miracles_, then _gifts of healing, helps, governments, diversities of tongues_." 1 Cor. 12:28.

5. For what purpose were these gifts bestowed upon the church?

"_For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ_: ... that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, which is the head, even Christ." Eph. 4:12-15.

6. What result is to be obtained by the exercise of the gifts in the church?

"_Till we all come in_ [_into_, margin] _the unity of the faith_, and of the knowledge of the Son of G.o.d, _unto a perfect man_, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ." Verse 13.

7. How is unity preserved in the diversities of gifts?

"Now there are diversities of gifts, but _the same Spirit_." 1 Cor. 12:4.

8. For what purpose is the manifestation of this one Spirit given?

"But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man _to profit withal_. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of _wisdom_; to another the word of _knowledge_ by the same Spirit; to another _faith_ by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of _healing_ by the same Spirit; to another the _working of miracles_; to another _prophecy_; to another _discerning of spirits_; to another _divers kinds of tongues_; to another the _interpretation of tongues_." Verses 7-10.

9. Who controls the distribution of the gifts of the Spirit?

"But all these worketh that one and _the selfsame Spirit_, dividing to every man severally _as He will_." Verse 11.

10. Was it G.o.d's design that all should possess the same gifts?

"Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?" Verses 29, 30.

11. Were the gifts of the Spirit to continue forever?

"Whether there be prophecies, _they shall be done away_; whether there be tongues, _they shall cease_; whether there be knowledge, _it shall be done away_." 1 Cor. 13:8, R. V.

12. When will the gifts of the Spirit be no longer needed?

"_When that which is perfect is come_, then that which is in part shall be done away." Verse 10.

The Gift Of Prophecy

[Ill.u.s.tration.]

Writing The Prophecies. "And He sent and signified it by His angel unto His servant John." Rev. 1:1.

1. How did G.o.d communicate with man in Eden?

"And the Lord G.o.d _called unto Adam, and said unto him_, Where art thou?"

Gen. 3:9.

2. Since the fall, by what means has G.o.d generally made known His will to man?

"I have also spoken _by the prophets_, and I have multiplied visions, and used similitudes, _by the ministry of the prophets_." Hosea 12:10.

3. What things belong to G.o.d, and what to us?

"_The secret things_ belong unto the Lord our G.o.d; but _those things which are revealed_ belong unto us and to our children forever." Deut. 29:29.

4. How fully and to whom does G.o.d reveal His purposes?

"Surely the Lord G.o.d will do _nothing_, but _He revealeth His secret unto His servants the prophets_." Amos 3:7.

5. Can the wise men of the world foretell the future?

"Daniel answered before the king, and said, The secret which the king hath demanded can neither wise men, enchanters, magicians, nor soothsayers, show unto the king." Dan. 2:27, R. V. See notes on page 202.

6. Who did Daniel say could reveal secrets?

"But _there is a G.o.d in heaven that revealeth secrets_, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days." Verse 28.

7. How did the prophet Daniel acknowledge the insufficiency of human wisdom?

"_As for me, this secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom that I have more than any living_, but for their sakes that shall make known the interpretation to the king, and that thou mightest know the thoughts of thy heart." Verse 30.

8. After revealing and interpreting the dream, what did Daniel say?

"The great G.o.d hath made known to the king what shall come to pa.s.s _hereafter_." Verse 45.

9. How does G.o.d show His foreknowledge?

"Behold, the former things are come to pa.s.s, and _new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them_." Isa. 42:9.

10. How does the Lord reveal Himself to His prophets?