Memory Text: Ephesians 5:18 KJV “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit.”
Ephesians 5:18 SDA BIBLE COMMENTARY The seeking after an earthly stimulant is replaced by the spiritual enthusiasm of the human spirit energized by the Holy Spirit. Although it is true that soberness accompanies the work of the Holy Spirit, nevertheless, the effect of the presence of the Holy Spirit is seen in enthusiastic witnessing for the faith.

Sunday, April 30 One Spirit, One Body
1 Corinthians 12:1-13 Holman “1 ¶ About matters of the spirit: brothers, I do not want you to be unaware. 2 You know how, when you were pagans, you were led to dumb idols––being led astray. 3 Therefore I am informing you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus is cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit. 4 Now there are different gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are different ministries, but the same Lord. 6 And there are different activities, but the same God is active in everyone and everything. 7 A manifestation of the Spirit is given to each person to produce what is beneficial: 8 to one is given a message of wisdom through the Spirit, to another, a message of knowledge by the same Spirit, 9 to another, faith by the same Spirit, to another, gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 to another, the performing of miracles, to another, prophecy, to another, distinguishing between spirits, to another, different kinds of languages, to another, interpretation of languages. 11 But one and the same Spirit is active in all these, distributing to each one as He wills. 12 ¶ For as the body is one and has many parts, and all the parts of that body, though many, are one body––so also is Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body––whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free––and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.”
1 Corinthians 12:13 FAMILY BIBLE NOTES By his operation on our hearts, we become united in spirit to Christ the head and to one another as members of his spiritual body the church.
1 Corinthians 12:13 SDA BIBLE COMMENTARY Whatever may have been a man’s former condition of life, or whatever his nationality, surrender to Christ and baptism by His Spirit removes all former differences between him and other believers, for all are on the same level in the sight of God. It is not nationality that counts, but humble acceptance of Jesus as Saviour, and willingness to let Him lead at all times.
Romans 8:9 Holman “You, however, are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, since the Spirit of God lives in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.”

Monday, May 1 Guilt and the Spirit
Notice the way people reacted when the Holy Spirit convicted them.
Acts 2:37 God’s Word to the Nations “When the people heard this, they were deeply upset. They asked Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what should we do?"”
Acts 2:37 COMMENTARY BY MATTHEW HENRY But neither Peter's words, nor the miracle they witnessed, could have produced such effects, had not the Holy Spirit been given. Sinners, when their eyes are opened, cannot but be pricked to the heart for sin, cannot but feel an inward uneasiness. The apostle exhorted them to repent of their sins, and openly to avow their belief in Jesus as the Messiah, by being baptized in his name. Thus professing their faith in Him, they would receive remission of their sins, and partake of the gifts and graces of the Holy Spirit.
2 Corinthians 7:9-11 God’s Word “9 But I’m happy now, not because I made you uncomfortable, but because the distress I caused you has led you to change the way you think and act. You were distressed in a godly way, so we haven’t done you any harm. 10 In fact, to be distressed in a godly way causes people to change the way they think and act and leads them to be saved. No one can regret that. But the distress that the world causes brings only death. 11 When you became distressed in a godly way, look at how much devotion it caused you to have. You were ready to clear yourselves of the charges against you. You were disgusted with the wrong that had been done. You were afraid. You wanted to see us. You wanted to show your concern for us. You were ready to punish the wrong that had been done. In every way you have demonstrated that you are people who are innocent in this matter.”

Tuesday, May 2 Repentance and the Spirit
What relationship does the Holy Spirit have with repentance?
Acts 2:38 MKJV “Then Peter said to them, Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ to remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
Acts 2:38 SDA BIBLE COMMENTARY The apostle promises the presence of the Spirit of God as a personal possession for each believer. He is not here concerned with the bestowal of miraculous powers.Note the steps in the blessed experience of becoming a Christian, as outlined in this verse: (1) repentance, (2) baptism, (3) remission of sin, (4) reception of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 2:4 MKJV “Or do you despise the riches of His kindness, and the forbearance and long-suffering, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?”
John 15:26 NRSV “"When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father, he will testify on my behalf.”
John 16:13-14 NRSV “13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14 He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you.”
John 8:32 (comment on word “truth”) Truth. A frequent word in John. In its basic meaning truth is that which corresponds to fact. John frequently, as here, uses the word in a wider sense to denote what is true in things pertaining to God and the duties of man, or in a more restricted sense the facts taught in the Christian religion concerning God and the execution of His purposes through Christ.

Wednesday, May 3 Obedience and the Spirit
In both cases, what evidence shows their repentance was real?
Acts 2:37 Holman “When they heard this, they were pierced to the heart and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles: “Brothers, what must we do?””
Acts 9:5-6 KJ21 “5 And he said, "Who art thou, Lord?" And the Lord said, "I am Jesus whom thou persecutest; it is hard for thee to kick against the goads." 6 And he, trembling and astonished, said, "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" And the Lord said unto him, "Arise and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do."”
What do the following tell us about the Holy Spirit and obedience?
Acts 16:7 20th Century N T “When they reached the borders of Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them.”
Galatians 5:22-26 ESV “5 For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.”
1 Peter 1:2 ESV “according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you.”

Thursday, May 4 Faith and the Spirit
Galatians 3:1-11 NRSV “1 ¶ You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly exhibited as crucified! 2 The only thing I want to learn from you is this: Did you receive the Spirit by doing the works of the law or by believing what you heard? 3 Are you so foolish? Having started with the Spirit, are you now ending with the flesh? 4 Did you experience so much for nothing? —if it really was for nothing. 5 Well then, does God supply you with the Spirit and work miracles among you by your doing the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard? 6 ¶ Just as Abraham "believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness," 7 so, you see, those who believe are the descendants of Abraham. 8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, declared the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, "All the Gentiles shall be blessed in you." 9 For this reason, those who believe are blessed with Abraham who believed. 10 For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who does not observe and obey all the things written in the book of the law." 11 Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law; for "The one who is righteous will live by faith."”
Galatians 3:1-5 COMMENTARY BY ADAM CLARKE The apostle inquires how they could be so foolish as to renounce the Gospel of Christ and turn back to the law, after having heard, received, and suffered so much for the Gospel. Galatians 3:2 SDA BIBLE COMMENTARY The Galatian believers had experienced the guidance of the Spirit in their lives and had witnessed the manifestation of the gifts of the Spirit. All this had come since their acceptance of the gospel of Christ as taught them by Paul. There could be no uncertainty as to the source of these spiritual blessings.
Galatians 3:11 SDA BIBLE COMMENTARY The law made no provision for releasing men who had incurred its curse, and that included all who had ever sought justification by means of it. Release from the curse could be achieved only through faith in Christ.

Friday, May 5 Further Study
Ellen White, Sons and Daughters of God, p. 29 – “Teach your children that it is their privilege to receive every day the baptism of the Holy Spirit.Those who are under the influence of the Spirit of God will not be fanatical, but calm and steadfast, free from extravagance in thought, word, or deed. Amid the confusion of delusive doctrines, the Spirit of God will be a guide and a shield to those who have not resisted the evidences of truth, silencing every other voice but that which comes from Him who is the truth.
Ellen White, Acts of the Apostles, p. 284 – “There are today many as ignorant of the Holy Spirit’s work upon the heart as were those believers in Ephesus; yet no truth is more clearly taught in the word of God. Prophets and apostles have dwelt upon this theme. Christ Himself calls our attention to the growth of the vegetable world as an illustration of the agency of His Spirit in sustaining spiritual life. The sap of the vine, ascending from the root, is diffused to the branches, sustaining growth and producing blossoms and fruit. So the life-giving power of the Holy Spirit, proceeding from the Saviour, pervades the soul, renews the motives and affections, and brings even the thoughts into obedience to the will of God, enabling the receiver to bear the precious fruit of holy deeds.