Memory Text: John 3:8 KJV “The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.”
John 3:8 COMMENTARY BY ALBERT BARNES Nicodemus had objected to the doctrine because he did not understand how it could be. Jesus shows him that he ought not to reject it on that account, for he constantly believed things quite as difficult. It might appear incomprehensible, but it was to be judged of by its effects.

Sunday, April 2 Dove
John 1:32 KJV “And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.”
John 1:32 ROBINSON’S NT WORD PICTURES The Semites regarded the dove as a symbol of the Spirit.
Matthew 10:16 Holman ““Look, I’m sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as serpents and as harmless as doves.”
Matthew 10:16 COMMENTARY BY JAMIESON, FAUSSET, AND BROWN Wonderful combination this! Alone, the wisdom of the serpent is mere cunning, and the harmlessness of the dove little better than weakness: but in combination, the wisdom of the serpent would save them from unnecessary exposure to danger; the harmlessness of the dove, from sinful expedients to escape it. In the apostolic age of Christianity, how harmoniously were these qualities displayed! Instead of the fanatical thirst for martyrdom, to which a later age gave birth, there was a manly combination of unflinching zeal and calm discretion, before which nothing was able to stand.
Ephesians 5:9-10 MKJV “9 (for the fruit of the Spirit [is] in all goodness and righteousness and truth), 10 proving what is acceptable to the Lord.”
2 Thessalonians 2:13 Holman “But we must always thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God has chosen you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and through belief in the truth.”
1 Peter 1:22 Holman “By obedience to the truth, having purified yourselves for sincere love of the brothers, love one another earnestly from a pure heart.”

Monday, April 3 Water
John 7:37-39 NRSV “37 ¶ On the last day of the festival, the great day, while Jesus was standing there, he cried out, "Let anyone who is thirsty come to me, 38 and let the one who believes in me drink. As the scripture has said, ‘Out of the believer’s heart shall flow rivers of living water.’" 39 Now he said this about the Spirit, which believers in him were to receive; for as yet there was no Spirit, because Jesus was not yet glorified.”
John 7:39 PEOPLE’S NT COMMENTARY Luther says: "So St. Peter, by one sermon on the day of Pentecost, as by a rushing of water, delivered three thousand men from the devil's kingdom, washing them in an hour from sin, death and Satan."
Isaiah 44:3-4 NRSV “3 For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour my spirit upon your descendants, and my blessing on your offspring. 4 They shall spring up like a green tamarisk, like willows by flowing streams.”
Matthew 18:21-35 NKJV “21 ¶ Then Peter came to Him and said, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?" 22 Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. 23 "Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 "And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. 25 "But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made. 26 "The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, ‘Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ 27 "Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt. 28 "But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took [him] by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’ 29 "So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ 30 "And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. 31 "So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done. 32 "Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. 33 ‘Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?’ 34 "And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him. 35 "So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses."”

Tuesday, April 4 Oil
Mathew 25:1-4 NIV “1 ¶ "At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4 The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps.”
Matthew 25:4 COMMENTARY BY JAMIESON, FAUSSET, AND BROWN for it cannot be for nothing that this inward grace is here set forth by the familiar symbol of oil, by which the Spirit of all grace is so constantly represented in Scripture. Beyond all doubt, this was what was symbolized by that precious anointing oil with which Aaron and his sons were consecrated to the priestly office.
Zechariah 4:1-6 KJ21 “1 ¶ And the angel who talked with me came again and waked me, as a man who is wakened out of his sleep, 2 and said unto me, "What seest thou?" And I said, "I have looked and behold, a candlestick all of gold with a bowl upon the top of it, and his seven lamps thereon, and seven pipes to the seven lamps which are upon the top thereof; 3 and two olive trees by it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof." 4 So I answered and spoke to the angel who talked with me, saying, "What are these, my lord?" 5 Then the angel who talked with me answered and said unto me, "Knowest thou not what these be?" And I said, "No, my lord." 6 Then he answered and spoke unto me, saying, "This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ saith the LORD of hosts.”
Zechariah 4:6 COMMENTARY BY JAMIESON, FAUSSET, AND BROWN As the lamps burned continually, supplied with oil from a source (the living olive trees) which man did not make, so Zerubbabel need not be disheartened because of his weakness; for as the work is one to be effected by the living Spirit of God, man's weakness is no obstacle, for God's might will perfect strength out of weakness.

Wednesday, April 5 Seal and Guarantee
2 Corinthians 1:20-22 MKJV “20 For all the promises of God in Him [are] yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God by us. 21 But He confirming us and anointing us with you in Christ [is] God. 22 And He has sealed us and having given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.”
2 Corinthians 1:22 COMMENTARY BY BARNES The word used here (from sfragizw) means, to seal up; to close and make fast with a seal, or signet--as, e.g., books, letters, etc., that they may not be read. It is also used in the sense of setting a mark on anything, or a seal, to denote that it is genuine, authentic, confirmed, or approved--as when a deed, compact, or agreement is sealed. It is thus made sure; and is confirmed, or established. Hence it is applied to persons, as denoting that they are approved.

Thursday, April 6 Light and Fire
John 1:9 Holman “The true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.”
John 1:9 COMMENTARY BY BARNES Not John, but the Messiah. He was not a false, uncertain, dangerous guide, but was one that was true, real, steady, and worthy of confidence. A false light is one that leads to danger or error, as a false beacon on the shores of the ocean may lead ships to quicksands or rocks; or an ignis fatuus to fens, and precipices, and death. A true light is one that does not deceive us, as the true beacon may guide us into port or warn us of danger. Christ does not lead astray. All false teachers do.
Matthew 3:11 KJ21 “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear. He shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.”
Matthew 3:11 COMMENTARY JOHN WESLEY NOTES He shall fill you with the Holy Ghost, inflaming your hearts with that fire of love, which many waters cannot quench. And this was done, even with a visible appearance as of fire, on the day of pentecost.

Friday, April 6 Further Study
Ellen White, Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 408 – “Without the Spirit of God a knowledge of His word is of no avail. The theory of truth, unaccompanied by the Holy Spirit, cannot quicken the soul or sanctify the heart. One may be familiar with the commands and promises of the Bible; but unless the Spirit of God sets the truth home, the character will not be transformed. Without the enlightenment of the Spirit, men will not be able to [BEGIN P.411] distinguish truth from error, and they will fall under the masterful temptations of Satan.
Ellen White, Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 411 – “The Spirit works upon man’s heart, according to his desire and consent implanting in him a new nature.
Ellen White, Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 158 – “But we must have a knowledge of ourselves, a knowledge that will result in contrition, before we can find pardon and peace. The Pharisee felt no conviction of sin. The Holy Spirit could not work with him. His soul was encased in a self-righteous armor which the arrows of God, barbed and true-aimed by angel hands, failed to penetrate. It is only he who knows himself to be a sinner that Christ can save. He came "to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised." Luke 4:18. But "they that are whole need not a physician." Luke 5:31. We must know our real condition, or we shall not feel our need of Christ’s help. We must understand our danger, or we shall not flee to the refuge. We must feel the pain of our wounds, or we should not desire healing.
Ellen White, Ministry of Healing, p. 36 – “The kingdom of God comes not with outward show. It comes through the gentleness of the inspiration of His word, through the inward working of His Spirit, the fellowship of the soul with Him who is its life. The greatest manifestation of its power is seen in human nature brought to the perfection of the character of Christ.