Why pastors should teach on the Baptism in the Holy Spirit and Pentecost

SERMON TOPIC: Why pastors should teach on the Baptism in the Holy Spirit and Pentecost

Speaker: Gavin Paynter

Language: ENGLISH

Date: 16 May 2015

Topic Groups: PENTECOST, HOLY SPIRIT, SOUND DOCTRINE

Sermon synopsis: There are 3 different Greek prepositions that describe our relationship with the Holy Spirit – ‘para’, ‘en’ and ‘epi.’
1) PARA (WITH YOU) - The Holy Spirit is with a person, even prior to conversion. He convicts them of sin, righteousness and judgement to come (John 16:7-9) - and convinces them that Jesus is the Saviour.
2) EN (IN YOU) - When anyone calls on God to be saved, the Holy Spirit then comes INTO that person’s life.
1 Cor 6:19-20 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in (EN) you.
3) EPI (UPON YOU) - But there is a third relationship that a believer can have which is separate and distinct from the first two. In Acts 1:8 Jesus promised “… but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon (EPI) you” (NASB)
Pentecostals maintain that the EPI experience (baptism in the Holy Spirit) is a unique experience, which is distinct from the EN experience (salvation).
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WHY PASTORS SHOULD TEACH ON THE BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT

INTRODUCTION

The general ministry of the Holy Spirit

Let’s first look at the general ministry of the Holy Spirit.

a) Conviction of sin

The Holy Spirit brings conviction of sin to the sinner.

John 16:7-9 … Unless I go away, the Counsellor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me

He also brings conviction of sin to the Christian. He is a HOLY Spirit and is grieved when we sin:

Eph 4:30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

MINISTRY OF THE SPIRIT

b) The Christian is sanctified (made holy) by the Spirit:

Rom 15:16 … so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

Rom 8:13 For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live

2 Thess 2:13 … God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth.

1 Pet 1:2 who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit

MINISTRY OF THE SPIRIT

The fruit of the Holy Spirit is evidenced by godly character:

Gal 5:16, 22-23So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh… But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

MINISTRY OF THE SPIRIT

c) Enables us to know God better – a deeper relationship:

Eph 1:7 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.

2 Cor 13:14 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

Rom 8:14-15 because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”

MINISTRY OF THE SPIRIT

d) For our encouragement and comfort:

Acts 9:31 Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. It was strengthened; and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord.

John 14:26 But the Comforter (Greek: paráklētos), even the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said unto you. (ASV)

‘Comforter or ‘paraclete’ comes from the Greek word paráklētos, that can signify “one who consoles or comforts, one who encourages or uplifts; hence refreshes, and/ or one who intercedes on our behalf as an advocate in court”. 1

1 http:// en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/ Paraclete

MINISTRY OF THE SPIRIT

e) The Holy Spirit is given for spiritual guidance:

John 14:26 But the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said unto you. (ASV)

So that we may be led by God:

Acts 15:28 “It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements…”

MINISTRY OF THE SPIRIT

Luke 2:26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts.

LED BY GOD

Acts 13:2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them”.

LED BY GOD

Acts 8:29 The Spirit told Philip “Go to that chariot and stay near it”.

LED BY GOD

Acts 10:19-20 While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Simon, three men are looking for you. So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them”.

LED BY GOD

The Holy Spirit will sometimes stop us going where we want to go:

Acts 16:6-7 Paul and his companions travelled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to.

And at other times lead us where we do not want to go:

Luke 4:1-2 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil.

The Spirit warned Paul of his imprisonment in Jerusalem:

Acts 21:10-11… a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. Coming over to us, he took Paul’s belt, tied his own hands and feet with it…

The Holy Spirit says, “In this way the Jews of Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.”

We read of the disciples at Tyre that “through the Spirit they urged Paul not to go on to Jerusalem.” (Acts 21:4)

Yet note that although the Holy Spirit warned Paul of prison and hardship, he said he was “compelled by the Spirit” to still go to Jerusalem despite the danger. (Acts 20:22-23)

compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me.

The man with God’s spirit can make decisions based on “the mind of Christ” (1 Cor 2:12-16):

We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man’s judgment: “For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

MINISTRY OF THE SPIRIT

f) In order that we may have spiritual liberty:

2 Cor 3:6 He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant - not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

2 Cor 3:17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

MINISTRY OF THE SPIRIT

g) To equip us to worship in the way God desires:

John 4:23-24 “Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.”

Phil 3:3 For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh

MINISTRY OF THE SPIRIT

h) To give us assurance of salvation:

1 John 3:24 Those who obey his commands live in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.

Gal 4:6-7 Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.

Rom 8:14-16 because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.

MINISTRY OF THE SPIRIT

Eph 1:13-14 … Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession - to the praise of his glory.

Eph 4:30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

MINISTRY OF THE SPIRIT

The baptism in

the Holy Spirit

While John the Baptist’s main ministry was baptism in water, Jesus came to baptize with the Holy Spirit.

I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I… He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. (Matt 3:11)

Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit. (Acts 1:4-5)

Acts 2:1-4 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.

They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

PARA, EN & EPI

There are 3 different Greek prepositions that describe our relationship with the Holy Spirit – ‘para’, ‘en’ and ‘epi.’

PARA (WITH YOU) - The Holy Spirit is with a person, even prior to conversion. He convicts them of sin, righteousness and judgement to come (John 16:7-9) - and convinces them that Jesus is the Saviour.

But while ‘PARA’ is ‘with’ you (a coming alongside), ‘EN’ is ‘in’ you (living in you).

John 14:16-17 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate (paraklētos) to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with (PARA) you and will be in (EN) you.

PARA, EN & EPI

EN (IN YOU) - When anyone calls on God to be saved, the Holy Spirit then comes INTO that person’s life.

1 Cor 6:19-20 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in (EN) you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honour God with your body.

So every believer has the Holy Spirit in them, who begins a sanctifying work in us by transforming us into the image of Christ.

PARA, EN & EPI

EPI (UPON YOU) - But there is a third relationship that a believer can have which is separate and distinct from the first two. In Acts 1:8 Jesus promised:

“… but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon (EPI) you” (NASB)

The word ‘EPI’ in the Greek means ‘upon’ or ‘over’.

This ‘EPI’ experience (baptism with the Holy Spirit) is the empowering of the believer for service to God. It generates an outward flow of the Holy Spirit (John 7:37-39), visible by both service and victory.

PARA, EN & EPI

Greek

Relationship

Object

Purpose

PARA

WITH you

An unbeliever

Convicts of sin, draws to Christ

EN

IN you

A new believer

Comforts, sanctifies

EPI

UPON you

A believer baptized in the Holy Spirit

Anointing

Pentecostals maintain that the EPI experience (baptism in the Holy Spirit) is a unique experience, which is distinct from the EN experience (salvation).

PARA, EN & EPI

This ‘EPI’ (upon) experience or ‘anointing’ is associated with preaching, works of power and miraculous signs.

The Spirit of the Lord is upon (EPI) me, because he anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed… (Luke 4:18 NASB)

THE ANOINTING

The anointing imparts power to do good and destroy the works of the devil:

… how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him. (Acts 10:38)

THE ANOINTING

The anointing prevents us going into spiritual error (leads us into truth):

1 John 2:27 As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit -just as it has taught you, remain in him.

John 16:12-13 “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth.”

THE ANOINTING

With the anointing comes the gifts (1 Cor 12:8-10):

The word of wisdom

The word of knowledge

Faith

Gifts of healing

Miraculous powers

Prophecy

Distinguishing between spirits

Speaking in tongues

Interpretation of tongues

Q: For whose benefit are the gifts?

1 Cor 12:7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.

1 Cor 14:12 So it is with you. Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in gifts that build up the church.

THE ANOINTING

Remember that Jesus said that “streams of living water will flow from within him”:

So the anointing leads to our own spiritual satisfaction, but is an inner source of blessing flowing out to others. Others too can drink from that stream of living water that flows from within us – and be blessed.

THE ANOINTING

The Spirit enables us to pray in accordance with God’s will:

Jude 20 But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit.

Rom 8:26-27 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.

PRAYING IN THE SPIRIT

1) Baptism into the body of Christ

2) Baptism in water

3) Baptism in the Holy Spirit

Baptizer

Holy Spirit

A believer

Jesus

Candidate

A repentant sinner

A believer

A believer

Element

Body of Christ

Water

Holy Spirit

Pentecostals believe that the baptism in the Holy Spirit is an experience distinct from salvation. At salvation the Holy Spirit baptizes us into the body of Christ, but with this experience Jesus baptizes us with the Holy Spirit.

DISTINCT EXPERIENCE

You can have the ‘EN’ (in you) experience without having had the ‘EPI’ (upon you) experience.

Acts 8:14-16 When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. When they arrived, they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, because the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon (EPI) any of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.

Jesus’ disciples were involved in ministry (he sent out the 12 and the 70) before they received the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

DISTINCT EXPERIENCE

If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.

John 7:37-39 By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive.

Jesus speaks of those who “believed in him” receiving the Spirit “later”. i.e. they were saved but had not received the anointing yet.

In Acts 19 the men Paul encounters in Ephesus were called disciples (v1), but hadn’t yet received the Holy Spirit baptism.

Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?

No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.

We see that the response of Paul was to give them instruction (vs 3-4), baptise them (v5) and then pray for them to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit (v6).

As pastors, are we doing the same to those who have not had this experience – i.e. teaching them and then praying for them?

TEACH & PRAY

We are led either by natural instincts or by the Spirit:

Jude 19 These are the men who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit.

How is your church led – by the Spirit or natural instinct?

Some churches have lots of programs but no Jesus! Paul says that in the last days people will “have a form of godliness but denying its power.” (2 Tim 3:1-5) i.e. occupied with religious ritual which has lost the significance.

A Chinese Christian recently visited churches on a US tour. When asked what he thought about American spirituality, he answered, “I am amazed at how much the church in America can accomplish without the Holy Spirit.” 1

1 “Why Isn’t the American Church Growing?” – by Kevin Turner

SPIRIT-LED CHURCHES

But it’s God’s Spirit and not our own strength that we so desperately need:

Zech 4:6 … ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty.”

SPIRIT-LED CHURCHES

GIFTS OF

THE SPIRIT

BEST BEFORE

100 A.D.

Are the gifts of the

Holy Spirit for today?

In Christian theology, Cessationism is the view that the charismatic gifts of the Holy Spirit, such as tongues, prophecy and healing, ceased being practiced early on in Church history. Cessationists usually believe the miraculous gifts were given only for the foundation of the Church, during the time between the coming of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost … and the fulfilment of God’s purposes in history, usually identified as either the completion of the last book of the New Testament or the death of the last Apostle. 1

Cessationists argue that since the completion of the NT, the gifts of Prophecy and Knowledge have been rendered useless since no new knowledge from God needs to be given.

1 http:// en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/ Cessationism

CESSATIONISM

Cessationists appeal to Church history to substantiate that this cessation of the gifts indeed occurred. However we cannot base doctrine on one’s experience, or lack of it, but upon the Scripture. In any event when we look at the historical evidence, we see that supernatural gifts and tongues were always present to some degree or another. Here are just a few examples of the gifts and tongues being in operation after the 1st century AD.

Justin Martyr (AD 100-165) says:

“For the prophetic gifts remain with us even to the present time,” and “Now it is possible to see among us women and men who possess gifts of the Spirit of God.” 1

Irenaeus (~AD 125-200) states:

Others still heal the sick by laying their hands upon them… the dead even have been raised up... In like manner we do also hear many brethren in the Church who possess prophetic gifts and who through the Spirit speak all kinds of languages, and bring to light for the general benefit the hidden things of men, and declare the mysteries of God.” 2

1 Dialogue With Trypho 2 Against Heresies

2ND CENTURY

Tertullian states, “For seeing that we acknowledge the spiritual charismata, or gifts, we too have merited the attainment of the prophetic gift.” 1

He gives this advice for newly baptized converts:

“Therefore, you blessed ones, for whom the grace of God is waiting, when you come up from that most sacred washing of the new birth… ask of your Lord, that special grants of grace and apportionments of spiritual gifts be yours. Ask, he says, and ye shall receive. So now, you have sought, and have found: you have knocked, and it has been opened to you. This only I pray, that as you ask you also have in mind Tertullian, a sinner.” 2

1 A Treatise on the Soul 2 On Baptism

2ND – 3RD CENTURY

Novatian (AD 210-280) an elder of the early church in Rome writes, “This is he [the Holy Spirit] who places prophets in the Church, instructs teachers, directs tongues, gives power and healings, does wonderful works, offers discrimination of spirits, affords powers of government, suggests counsels, and orders and arranges whatever other gifts there are of charismata; and thus making the Lord’s Church everywhere, and in all, perfected and completed.” 1

Augustine the bishop of Hippo (354-443) wrote, “We still do what the apostles did when they laid hands on the Samaritans and called down the Holy Spirit on them by laying on of hands. It is expected that new converts should speak with new tongues.” 2

1 Novation: The Trinity 2 Augustine, ‘The City of God’

3RD – 5TH CENTURY

According to the New World Encyclopedia certain of the orthodox Franciscans reportedly spoke in tongues.

Hildegard of Bingen (1098- 1179) is also reputed to have spoken and sung in tongues, and her spiritual songs were referred to by contemporaries as “concerts in the Spirit”. 1

1 New World Encyclopedia

THE MEDIEVAL ERA

Hildegard of Bingen

The movement that became the Moravian Church was started by Jan Hus in the late 14th century Bohemia (now in the Czech Republic).

The Moravians are referred to by detractors as having spoken in tongues. John Roche, a contemporary critic, claimed that the Moravians “commonly broke into some disconnected jargon, which they often passed upon the vulgar, ‘as the exuberant and resistless evacuations of the Spirit.’ ” 1

1 Stanley M. Burgess. “Medieval and Modern Western Churches,” Initial Evidence

EARLY REFORMERS

The Anabaptists insisted upon the ‘free course’ of the Holy Spirit in worship, yet still maintained it all must be judged according to the Scriptures. 1 It was not unusual for them to dance, fall under the power of the Holy Spirit and speak in tongues. 2 In Germany some Anabaptists, “excited by mass hysteria, experienced healings, glossolalia, 3 contortions and other manifestations of a camp-meeting revival.” 4 One Swiss Anabaptist document states that the reason for not attending the state churches is these institutions forbid the congregation to exercise spiritual gifts according to “the Christian order as taught in the gospel or the Word of God in 1 Cor 14.” 5

1 John S. Oyer, Lutheran Reformers Against Anabaptists 2 Franklin H. Little, The Origins of Sectarian Protestantism 3 i.e. speaking in tongues 4 George Williams, “The Radical Reformation” 5 “Answer of Some Who Are Called (Ana)Baptists - Why They Do Not Attend the Churches” (1532-1534)

REFORMERS

The Huguenots (16th - 18th Centuries) … exhibited the dynamic power of the Holy Spirit. Thus they were called, ‘The French Prophets.’ They affirmed, “God has nowhere in the Scriptures concluded Himself from dispensing again the extraordinary gifts of His Spirit unto men.” 1

Sir Richard Bulkey, a wealthy English nobleman, tells how he heard John Lacy, one of their leaders, “repeat long sentences in Latin, and another refugee speak in Hebrew, neither one of whom could speak a single word in these languages when not in spiritual ecstasy.” 2

In the 1700s Wesleyan revivals across Europe and North America included many reportedly miraculous events, including speaking in tongues. 3

1 Hamilton, The Charismatic Movement 2 Cutten, Speaking With Tongues 3 Jennings Supernatural occurrences of John Wesley - www.answers.com

16TH – 18TH CENTURY

South African Dutch Reformed minister Andrew Murray is considered to be a forerunner of Pentecostalism.

During a youth fellowship meeting, an African servant girl arose and asked permission to sing and pray. The Holy Spirit fell upon the group as she prayed. In the distance, there came a sound like approaching thunder. It surrounded the hall, and the building began to shake. Instantly everyone burst into prayer. Murray who had been speaking in the main sanctuary was notified. He came running and called in a loud voice, “I am your minister, sent from God. Silence!” No one noticed as all continued calling out loudly to God for forgiveness. Murray asked his assistant to sing a hymn, but the praying continued undiminished. 1

1 Source: www.gloryofhiscross.org

19TH CENTURY

The modern

Pentecostal

movement

The Welsh revival (1904-1905), with its strong emphasis on the Holy Spirit, had a direct influence on American and British Pentecostalism.

One night Evan Roberts was woken from his sleep and led into a deep communion with God for hours. This experience continued every evening for the next few months. Later Evan attended a Convention where he received what he termed a fresh ‘Baptism of the Spirit’ which transformed the young student into a Revivalist with a message for Wales. 1

1 SOURCE: www.welshrevival.com

THE WELSH REVIVAL

Evan Roberts (1878-1951)

… it is generally accepted that modern Pentecostalism dates from 1901 when Agnes Ozman received the gift of tongues during a prayer meeting at Charles Fox Parham’s Bethel Bible College in Topeka, Kansas. Parham, a minister of Methodist background, formulated the doctrine that tongues was the “Bible evidence” of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. 1

1 SOURCE: Wikipedia

CHARLES FOX PARHAM

Charles Fox Parham (1873 - 1929)

The expansion of the movement started with the Azusa Street Revival, beginning April 9, 1906 at the Los Angeles home of Edward Lee, who experienced the infilling of the Holy Spirit during a prayer meeting. The attending African American pastor, William J. Seymour, was also overcome with the Holy Spirit on April 12, 1906. 1

1 Source: Wikipedia

AZUSA STREET

William J. Seymour (1870 - 1922)

They rented an abandoned African Methodist Episcopal Church at 312 Azusa Street and organized as the Apostolic Faith Mission.

The Assemblies of God grew out of this Pentecostal revival that started in Kansas and Azusa Street and quickly spread around the world.

AZUSA STREET

The mission at 312 Azusa Street

Smith Wigglesworth, often referred to as ‘the Apostle of Faith,’ was one of the pioneers of the Pentecostal revival.

The miracles that accompanied his ministry were of the sort that have seldom been seen since the days of the apostles. People born blind and deaf, cripples - twisted and deformed by disease, others on death’s door with cancer or sickness of every kind, - all were healed by the mighty power of God. It has been recorded that he raised 23 people from the dead in total, over the years of his ministry. 1

1 SOURCE: http:// thangaswamy.tripod.com/ revival

WIGGLESWORTH

Smith Wigglesworth

(1859-1947)

Who originated the idea of ‘Cessationism’? Cessationism and the argument from 1 Cor 13 comes from the champion of allegorical interpretation, namely Augustine. On analogy with 1 Cor 13:10, the completion of the canon of Scripture was reckoned by Augustine to have ‘perfected’ the revelation of God, such that personal speaking in tongues and other forms of ecstatic and prophetic utterance had ‘passed away’. ‘Perfection’ here was seen to be a reference to the completed NT and would became a standard Cessationist argument in years to come.

1 Cor 13:8-10 … But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears.

CESSATIONISM

This is a controversial way of interpreting this passage, but typical of Augustine’s allegorical interpretation method. Paul wrote:

Rom 11:29 …for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable.

But what about the previous quote from Augustine in support of speaking in tongues?

Augustine originally wrote that miracles were only for the foundation of the Church, but later repudiated this position, and in his ‘City of God’ provides samples of over 70 miracles he recorded in and around his churches.

CESSATIONISM

He wrote: “But what I said is not to be so interpreted that no miracles are believed to be performed in the name of Christ in the present time. For when I wrote that book, I myself had recently learned that a blind man had been restored to sight… and I knew about some others, so numerous even in these times, that we cannot know about all of them nor enumerate those we know.”

His statement supporting individual speaking in tongues was also from his later years. He previously had proposed an allegorical view, with speaking in tongues being collectively fulfilled by the church taking the gospel to the nations of varying languages.

CESSATIONISM

Yet Augustine’s original opinion was to gain favour in the years to come. Most accounts from here on until the modern era, regarding speaking in tongues came from groups outside the mainstream ‘catholic’ church.

There are still many accounts of miracles although they start to be linked to relics and other such superstitious influences, rather than the power of God in the Spirit-filled believer.

John Chrysostom (347-407) and the Roman bishop ‘Gregory the Great’ (c. 540–604) wrote of the relative absence of the gifts, and surmised either that such “signs and wonders” were no longer necessary to confirm a Gospel now well established within Christendom, or that they had been side-lined because of their abuse.

CESSATIONISM

The fact is, there is no plain, unambiguous statement in the New Testament that the charismatic gifts will cease. One of the hermeneutical rules of interpreting scripture is to cross-reference the usage of the word we wish to interpret with it’s usage in other passages.

The Cessationist theory relies, instead, on a particular interpretation of 1 Corinthians 13:10 that equates the phrase – “when that which is perfect has come” - to mean “when the New Testament Canon has come”, however, that construction of the word “perfect” is inconsistent with every other analogous N.T. reference to the concept of “perfection”. 1

1 thefullwiki.org/ Cessationism

CESSATIONISM

In contrast, almost every other New Testament reference to the concept of “perfection” refers instead to the believer’s ultimate state of maturity and perfection in Christ, e.g. Ephesians 4:13, Colossians 1:28. Neither of these two example verses would make any sense if read as references to the perfect New Testament Canon itself. No other N.T. reference, which contains the words “perfect” or “perfection”, can be read in such a manner as to refer to the New Testament Canon itself. Therefore, this suggests that the Cessationists interpretation of 1 Cor 13:10 is an isolated and distorted interpretation that is out of kilter with the other analogous verses of similar subject matter. 1

1 Ibid

CESSATIONISM

GIFTS OF

THE SPIRIT

BEST BEFORE

100 A.D.

On the Day of Pentecost Peter made it clear that the promised gift of the Holy Spirit did not have an expiry date set on it when he said, “And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off – for all whom the Lord our God will call.” (Acts 2:38-39)

CESSATIONISM

The PRIMARY purpose

of the baptism in

the Holy Spirit

Q: What is the primary purpose for the baptism in the Holy Spirit? Is it to speak in tongues or to perform miracles? Is it to get goosebumps and fall over?

A: NO – Jesus gave his disciples the reason. Shortly before his ascension he instructed the disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the promised baptism in the Holy Spirit:

Acts 1:8 “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

So the primary reason for the baptism in the Holy Spirit is that we may receive power to be witnesses worldwide i.e. evangelism and missions.

PURPOSE OF THE BAPTISM

The Holy Spirit is a witness (within us) to the resurrection:

Acts 5:32 “We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”

John 15:26-27 “When the Counsellor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me. And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning.”

POWER TO WITNESS

The Holy Spirit equips us to witness effectively:

He teaches us what to say:

Luke 12:11-12 “When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.”

POWER TO WITNESS

He emboldens us:

And so on the Day of Pentecost we see Peter who previously denied the Lord to a servant girl, boldly proclaiming the gospel even to those who crucified Jesus.

Acts 4:31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

2 Tim 1:6-8 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord

POWER TO WITNESS

Q: In the parable of the sower, what was the test of the good seed?

A: It reproduced itself. The first 3 types of soil were all unfruitful:

Matt 13:22-23 The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”

POWER TO WITNESS

And so Jesus says that the Holy Spirit is given that “you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)

And so it’s not surprising that we’ve seen a phenomenal growth in Christianity corresponding to the Pentecostal and Charismatic resurgence.

Rise & phenomenal

growth of Pentecostalism

God said that in the last days, “I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh” (Joel 2:28).

On November 9, 2003, St. Petersburg Times writer Sharon Tubbs stated in an article entitled Fiery Pentecostal Spirit Spreads into Mainstream Christianity that Pentecostalism is the world’s fastest-growing Christian movement. 1

From only one million in AD 1900, Pentecostals / Charismatics / Neocharismatics have mushroomed to 524 million affiliated (with unaffiliated believers, 602 million). It is, after Roman Catholicism, the largest Christian tradition.

It is said that Pentecostalism has probably been the most influential social movement of the twentieth century. 2

1 Wikipedia 2 southasianconnection.com

PHENOMENAL GROWTH

From the late 1950s onwards, the Charismatic movement, which was to a large extent inspired and influenced by Pentecostalism, began to flourish in the mainline Protestant denominations, as well as the Roman Catholic church. 1

Missions expert David Barrett estimated in a Christianity Today article that the Pentecostal and charismatic church is growing by 19 million per year. 1

While communism and fascism have died or are dying out, Pentecostals are growing at an unprecedented rate and will eventually make up the majority of all Christians worldwide. 2

1 Wikipedia 2 " southasianconnection.com

PHENOMENAL GROWTH

The World Assemblies of God Fellowship… is the world’s largest Pentecostal denomination, with over 283,413 churches and outstations in over 110 countries … and approximately 60 million adherents worldwide. It is the fourth largest international body of Christians. 1

A/ G leaders credit their church’s rapid and continuing growth (20.4% in U.S. adherents in the decade between 1989-99) to its acceptance of the NT as a model for the present-day church. Brazil has the largest number of A/ G adherents with over 15 million.

In 1990, the A/ G Church in Nigeria had 3,682 churches with 707,782 members. By 1999 the number of churches increased to 7,726 with 1,811,396 members. 2

1 Wikipedia 2 SOURCE: "www.ad2000.org/ celebrate/ ezemandu.htm

PHENOMENAL GROWTH

HOW TO RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT

Q: Does God want me to have the gift of the Holy Spirit?

A: Yes! Jesus told us it’s a good gift and our heavenly Father wants us to have good gifts, in the same way an earthly father wishes to bless his children.

Matt 11:10-13 “For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

Q: How do I receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit?

A: Jesus told us - you ask for it.

IS IT FOR ME?

Q: How can you, as a pastor, assist those who want to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit?

A: The practice of laying on of hands for the receiving of a spiritual gift from God is mentioned in the following verses:

1 Tim 4:14 Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you.

2 Tim 1:6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.

The practice of laying on of hands for the receiving of the Holy Spirit is specifically mentioned in the following passages:

HOW DO I RECEIVE IT?

Acts 8:17 Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

Acts 8:18-19 When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money…

Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.

Acts 9:17 Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said…

Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus … has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.

When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. (Acts 19:6)

Q: How else can you, as a pastor, assist those who want to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit?

A: Like Paul did when he encountered the disciples in Ephesus, teach your people about the importance of the baptism in the Holy Spirit. Show them that they should not stop at the ‘EN’ experience, but also seek the ‘EPI’ anointing.

Give them the same message that Peter gave on the day of Pentecost when the people asked “Brothers, what shall we do?”. He replied:

“Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38)

CONCLUSION

COPYRIGHT INFORMATION

Unless otherwise stated, Scripture quotations are taken from the NIV:

THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture quotations taken from the NASB:

New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation Used by permission. ( Lockman.org)




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