My Journey to Life - Daily Study Guide

Q6. How does Satan seek to tarnish the spiritual gifts?

Picture: Q6. How does Satan seek to tarnish the spiritual gifts? JTLD 280.1

The use of gifts devoid of love causes confusion and divisiveness in the church. Similarly, jealousy can also wreak havoc on the unity of the believers and fracture the sweet fellowship of the church. JTLD 280.2

Satan’s original sin was embracing feelings of jealousy against Christ and coveting His position in the Godhead. Dissatisfied with the position and spiritual gifts God had granted him, Lucifer stirred up disunity in heaven and persuaded one-third of the angels to follow him in rebellion. JTLD 280.3

Today Satan continues to tempt believers to covet others’ spiritual gifts and be envious of their success. Those who succumb to Satan’s diabolical efforts to create dissatisfaction often bury their own talents and live in a state of unhappiness. JTLD 280.4

Every Christian is given gifts by the Spirit. As we identify those gifts and use them gratefully in God’s service, our gifts will grow and multiply. A church whose members affirm the gifts found in others can be much more effective as it organizes for service and spreading the Gospel. JTLD 280.5

• Bible Discovery: Isaiah 14:13, 14; Ezekiel 28:6, 7, 17; Matthew 25:14-30; Ephesians 4:1-3; Revelation 12:4
• Further Reading: Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy, p. 495.1, 2; Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 328.3