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The Cessation Of The Gifts: Part 2

November 27, 2005

II. The purpose of the gifts was fulfilled

Gifts of the Holy Spirit confirmed the spoken word

Hebrews 2:3-4 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation (the gospel); which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them (that is the apostles) that heard Him; 4 God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and *gifts of the Holy Spirit [literally: “distributions of the Holy Spirit”], according to his own will?

*In verse 4, “gifts of the Holy Spirit” has been translated several ways:

“imparting the gifts of the Holy Spirit” Amplified

“gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed” NIV, NET

“giving gifts of the Holy Spirit” NLT

“distributing the gifts of the Holy Spirit” NJB

The miraculous gifts of power confirmed the message

Moses

Exodus 4:1 Then Moses answered and said, "But suppose they will not believe me or listen to my voice; suppose they say, 'The LORD has not appeared to you.' " 2 So the LORD said to him, "What is that in your hand?" He said, "A rod." 3 And He said, "Cast it on the ground." So he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from it. 4 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Reach out your hand and take it by the tail" (and he reached out his hand and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand), 5 "that they may believe that the LORD God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared to you." 6 Furthermore the LORD said to him, "Now put your hand in your bosom." And he put his hand in his bosom, and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous, like snow. 7 And He said, "Put your hand in your bosom again." So he put his hand in his bosom again, and drew it out of his bosom, and behold, it was restored like his other flesh. 8 "Then it will be, if they do not believe you, nor heed the message of the first sign, that they may believe the message of the latter sign. 9 "And it shall be, if they do not believe even these two signs, or listen to your voice, that you shall take water from the river and pour it on the dry land. And the water which you take from the river will become blood on the dry land."

Elijah

1 Kings 17:21-24 "Then he (Elijah) stretched himself upon the child three times, and called to the Lord, and said, "O Lord my God, I pray Thee, let this child’s life return to him." 22 And the Lord heard the voice of Elijah, and the life of the child returned to him and he revived. 23 And Elijah took the child, and brought him down from the upper room into the house and gave him to his mother; and Elijah said, "See, your son is alive." 24 Then the woman said to Elijah, "Now I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of the Lord in your mouth is truth.""

Jesus

Acts 2:22 Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know.

The apostles

Mark 16:14,17-20 Afterward he appeared unto the eleven.. 17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. 19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. 20 And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.

Acts 4:16 Saying, What shall we (leaders of Israel) do to these men (the apostles)? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it (true miracles cannot be denied as a natural phenomenon).

2 Corinthians 12:12 Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.

Paul

Acts 14:3 Long time therefore abode they (Paul and Barnabus) speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands.

The past miracles are recorded for our faith

John 20:30-31 And many other signs (miraculous) truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: 31 But these (signs) are written, that (for this purpose) ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God (the coming King of the earth and heir of all things); and that believing (present tense) ye might have life (in His kingdom) through his name.

"Pentecostals" today do the very opposite to what occurred in the early Churches
First Century apostles	Miracles confirmed the Word : They would simply perform miracles and then people believed what ever they taught!
Pentecostals today	The Word confirms miracles : Pentecostals don’t perform miracles today, they only claim to be able to do it! They quote the Bible to prove they can perform miracles! How absurd! The Apostles didn’t go around quoting bible passages to prove they had the power of God! They just demonstrated it!

The Gifts edified the early church

Ephesians 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

1 Corinthians 14:3-5 But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. 4 He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church. 5 I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.

1 Corinthians 14:12 Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.

1 Corinthians 14:26 How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.

III. The way of God gave the gifts has ended

Gifts were imparted by two ways:

1. The baptism in the Holy Spirit (fulfilled in the 12 apostles only)

Baptism in the Holy Spirit was promised to the apostles

John 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you (the twelve) another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever.

John 15:26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: 27 And you also shall bear witness, because you (the apostles) have been with me from the beginning.

John 16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you (the twelve) that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

Acts 1:2,4-5 Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Spirit had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: 4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. 5 For John truly baptized with water; but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days hence.

Power given to the apostles to continue the ministry of Christ

Luke 24:49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.

Acts 1:8 But you (the apostles, v.2) shall receive power, after that the Holy Spirit is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Gifts of Tongues

Acts 2:4-7 And they (the twelve apostles, 1:26) were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues (gift of tongues), as the Spirit gave them utterance. 5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. 6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. 7 And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galileans? (the Galileans were the apostles in Acts 1:9-11)

Gifts of miracles

Acts 2:43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.

Acts 4:33 And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.

Acts 5:12 And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people.

Gifts of healings

Acts 5:16 There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.

Gifts of prophesy

Ephesians 3:5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit (the gifts).

1 Peter 1:12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them (the apostles) that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Spirit sent down from heaven (miraculous gifts of the Spirit); which things the angels desire to look into.

Inspired guidance into all truth

John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name (the baptism in the Holy Spirit), he shall teach you (the twelve) all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come (at Pentecost), he will guide you (the apostles) into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God (by the gifts of the Spirit), and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

The Lord’s Church founded on the truth

1 Timothy 3:15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

Water baptism is the one baptism practiced in the Churches

Ephesians 4:5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism.

Matthew 28:19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

At Pentecost those that believed Peter’s words were water

baptized not baptized in the Spirit

Acts 2:41-42 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized (in water): and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. 42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

2. Laying on of hands by the apostles

Acts 6:6 Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them (Stephen and Philip).

Acts 6:8 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people.

Acts 8:5-6 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. 6 And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.

Romans 1:11 For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established.

1 Timothy 4:14 Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with [accompanied by] the laying on of the hands of the presbytery [elders].

2 Timothy 1:6 Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.

Acts 19:6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.