Easy Reading Edition
2
Symbols of the Holy Spirit
April 1-7
in the Bible
SABBATH—APRIL 1
READ FOR THIS WEEK’S STUDY: Matthew 3:11; Matthew 10:16; John 1:9,
32; John 7:37-39; 2 Corinthians 1:20-22; 1 Peter 1:22.
MEMORY VERSE: “The wind blows where it wants to. You hear the sound
it makes. But you can’t [cannot] tell where it comes from or where it is
going. It is the same with everyone who is born through the [Holy] Spirit”
(John 3:8, NIrV).
“THE HOLY SPIRIT IS A LIGHT TO ENLIGHTEN US. He is a Friend we turn to
for advice. He is Water to refresh us. He is a Comforter to cheer us. He is a
Teacher to teach us. He is a Guide to lead us. He serves as Oil to make us shine
and as a Fire to cleanse us. He is a Dove to bring us mercy.1 He serves as a
Seal2 to make us safe. He is the Witness3 for us to look up to. . . . He is the Power
to help us pray. He is the Fruit Bearer and Sap4 to make us grow. He is the
Reminder to help us remember God’s promises. And He is the Earnest
(Guarantee) of the coming glory.”—Adapted from F. E. Marsh, Emblems
[Symbols] of the Holy Spirit (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Kregel Publications, 1971),
p. 246. This week, we will learn what some of these symbols mean.
Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, April 8.
1
mercy—kindness we do not deserve.
2
seal—when kings in Bible times sent a letter, they sealed (closed) the letter with a mark in hot wax. This
mark showed the letter was from them. This mark was called a seal. The seal kept what was inside the letter
safe. The Holy Spirit seals us to show we belong to God, our King. The Holy Spirit’s seal keeps us safe from
sin.
3
witness—someone or something that tells us about God.
4
sap—the liquid in trees that helps the plant to grow.
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Lesson 2 Symbols of the Holy Spirit in the Bible
SUNDAY—APRIL 2 description of Jesus. It is also an
example of what the Holy Spirit can
DOVE (John 1:32). do in our lives.
Read John 1:32. “The Lord had What do we learn about the Holy
promised to give John a sign so he Spirit’s work from Ephesians 5:9,
might know who was the Messiah. As 10; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; and
Jesus went up out of the water, the 1 Peter 1:22?
promised sign was given. John saw
the heavens opened. He saw the Spirit The Bible is clear about how
of God, the same as a dove of bur- Christians should live. The Bible is
nished (shining) gold, flying over also clear that we can live such a life
Christ’s head.”—Adapted from Ellen G. only through the Holy Spirit working
White Comments, The Seventh-Day in our hearts. We are too spiritually
Adventist Commentary, vol. 5, p. 1078. dead to change ourselves. Only the
cleansing and re-energizing power of
the Spirit can help us develop Jesus’
character. To develop Jesus’ charac-
ter is the goal of all who wish to follow
Him.
We can live a Christian life when the Holy
Why is a dove a good symbol for Spirit lives in our heart.
the Holy Spirit? Matthew 10:16.
The word in Matthew 10:16 trans-
lated as “harmless” (NKJV) can be What areas in your life need to
translated as “pure” or “without a change? How can you help the
mixture of evil.” This is a good Holy Spirit make these changes?
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Lesson 2 Symbols of the Holy Spirit in the Bible
MONDAY—APRIL 3 from the Holy Spirit will flow out to
others?
WATER (John 7:37-39). What are some things the Holy
Spirit has done for you that you
There can be no life without water. also should be doing for others?
In the same way, there can be no
spiritual life without the Spirit. Also,
we cannot make water. We are totally
dependent upon God for it. We also
are totally dependent on God for the
Spirit.
Notice the idea of water flowing out
from those who love Jesus (John
7:38). This is an important truth about
those who love Him. When believers
receive something through the Spirit,
it will flow from them to others. Water helps plants to grow. The Holy Spirit
helps us to grow in Christ.
How does Isaiah 44:3 show the
same idea Jesus talked about in TUESDAY—APRIL 4
John 7:38?
OIL (Matthew 25:1-4).
The second part of Isaiah 44:3
explains what the first part means. Read Matthew 25:1-4. Lamps in the
Isaiah 44:4 shows that growth will time of Christ did not give light without
come from the pouring out of water oil. In the same way, a Christian can-
upon dry land. In the same way, spir- not bring light (God’s message) to the
itual growth comes from the outpour- world without the Spirit in his or her
ing of God’s Spirit. Growth is proof of life (Matthew 5:14-16). “The wise vir-
life. Dry land becomes green because gins symbolize people who received
of water. So, the Spirit can change a the grace of God and the renewing
“dry” soul into a person of Christian power of the Holy Spirit. The Holy
beauty. “The Spirit of God through Spirit’s power makes the Bible a lamp
faith makes a new life in the soul.” to the feet and a light to the path. In
—Adapted from The Desire of Ages, the fear of God these people had
p. 176. studied the Bible to learn the truth.
They had worked hard for purity of
How does Matthew 18:21-35 heart and life.”—Adapted from The
show the idea that what we receive Great Controversy [War], p. 394.
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Lesson 2 Symbols of the Holy Spirit in the Bible
lamps so they always can give a
bright light. So, from the chosen mes-
sengers that stand in God’s pres-
ence, the fullness of God’s light, love,
and power is shared with His people.
They in turn become messengers to
share God’s love to the world.
In the past 24 hours, were you a
dim bulb, a weak lantern, or a
bright lamp of light giving hope
and grace?
WEDNESDAY—APRIL 5
SEAL AND GUARANTEE
(2 Corinthians 1:22).
Oil is a symbol of the Holy Spirit.
What is Paul teaching us in
2 Corinthians 1:20-22?
How does Zechariah 4:1-6
describe the light-giving power of Where do you see the work of the
the Holy Spirit? What do you think Three-in-One God in 2 Corinthians
the angel meant in verse 6? 1:20-22? How do these verses give
us hope about salvation?
The lamps or the lampstands
(candlesticks) represent the church Notice that 2 Corinthians 1:20
or Christ’s followers (Revelation teaches that in Jesus, we have all
1:20). The holy ones that stand in these promises. These promises are
God’s presence give the Holy Spirit to made sure through the Holy Spirit
humans who are dedicated to His (2 Corinthians 1:22). The promises
service. Only through the renewing come because of what Jesus did for
power of the Holy Spirit can we de- us on the cross. Because of the
velop the right attitude toward God’s cross, we can receive the Holy Spirit.
light and truth. Only through the Holy The Holy Spirit is the seal of our sal-
Spirit can we be messengers of vation.
mercy and grace to the world. The gift of the Spirit is God’s prom-
The two olive trees are draining the ise to believers that He will bring them
golden oil out of themselves into a the full gift of salvation by taking them
bowl. This bowl feeds the sanctuary out of this world of sin and giving
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Lesson 2 Symbols of the Holy Spirit in the Bible
them the right to enter His eternal5 feet to God’s kingdom.”—Adapted
kingdom. from Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 385.
Second Corinthians 1:20-22 does
not teach “once saved, always saved.” What important questions does
But we can resist the Spirit (Acts the above quote answer? What
7:51). God does not want to force us questions does it not answer?
to follow Him. It is up to us to follow
Him by faith, by claiming His power to With what did John the Baptist
overcome when tempted, and by say Jesus would baptize His fol-
claiming His forgiveness when we lowers? What do you think he
fall. When we do these things, He will meant? Matthew 3:11.
do all He has promised. What more
hope do we need? Fire showed God’s presence
(Exodus 3:2), His protecting care and
“All the promises of God find their leading (Exodus 13:21), His approval
Yes in him [Jesus]” (2 Corinthians (Leviticus 9:24), and His sanctifying6
1:20). Which promises mean the power (Isaiah 6:6, 7).
most to you?
How have you experienced a
THURSDAY—APRIL 6 baptism of fire? What lessons did
you learn from this experience?
LIGHT AND FIRE (John 1:9).
“Many worldly people have no FRIDAY—APRIL 7
knowledge of God’s written law. They
have never heard Christ’s name. But ADDITIONAL STUDY: Ellen G.
they have been kind to His serv- White, Christ’s Object Lessons, “Two
ants. . . . They have protected His serv- Worshipers,” pp. 158, 159, and “To
ants at the risk of their own lives. Meet the Bridegroom,” pp. 405–408;
Their acts show the working of God’s The Desire of Ages, pp. 190,
power. The Holy Spirit has planted 453, 454; The Ministry [Work] of
the grace of Christ in the hearts of Healing, pp. 36, 37; The Great
worldly people, awakening sympa- Controversy [War], pp. 425, 426;
thies that are not normal. The ‘Light Steps to Christ, “The Test of
that gives light to every man was Discipleship,”7 pp. 57, 58.
coming into the world’ (John 1:9,
NIrV) is shining in their world. And Jesus used another symbol to
this Light, if obeyed, will guide their describe the Holy Spirit’s work. He
5
eternal—forever; without beginning or end; lasting forever.
6
sanctifying—the Holy Spirit’s work of helping us to have the character of Jesus.
7
discipleship—surrendering fully our lives and hearts to God.
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Lesson 2 Symbols of the Holy Spirit in the Bible
compared8 the Spirit’s work to the of God. We do not know through whom
wind (John 3:8). the Spirit will be shown.”—Adapted
We cannot see the wind. We do not from Selected Messages, book 2, p. 15.
know where the wind comes from. We
do not know where it goes. But we DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
can see what the wind does.
Likewise, we cannot see the Spirit. 1. As a class, compare your an-
But we can see what the Spirit does swers to the last question in
in the lives it changes. The Spirit is a Wednesday’s study. What prom-
mystery. Of the Three Persons in the ises came up again and again?
Godhead,9 the Spirit is the most unfa-
miliar to people. Jesus came to show
the Father (John 1:18). And people 2. This week’s study focused on the
saw Jesus in human form. But no one changes the Holy Spirit brings to
has ever seen the Spirit. our lives and how we should
“Christ uses the wind as a symbol of show these changes. But how
the Spirit of God. ‘The wind blows should the Holy Spirit change the
where it wants to.You hear the sound it church as a group? How would
makes. But you cannot tell where it these changes be shown in the
comes from or where it is going’ (John church’s relationship to the local
3:8, NIrV). It is the same with the Spirit community?
8
compared—showed how things are the same.
9
Godhead—God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit make up the Godhead.
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