A solid case for cessationism

Cessationism is the position that the sign gifts ceased in operation in the church after the period of the apostles (i.e., before  A.D. 100).  Jared Moore explains this position and well and then seeks to show how it is supported by Scripture.

If you have questions about the existence of miraculous gifts including speaking in tongues or if you have a friend that talks with you about it, this would be a good article to read: A Case of Cessationism.

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The Spirit prays for us: why this is so important

“Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words” (Romans 8:26)

That verse should bring much comfort to every Christian heart. We have a Helper in our prayers!  Why is that so important. As this verse points out we are weak and we are ignorant.  And from other Scripture we know the Spirit is powerful and knows all things.

Paul Tautages expands on the above thoughts in “The Spirit’s Silent Prayer Ministry.”

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Look Who God Gives Us!

Recently on First Importance:

If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him! (Luke 11:13 )

Why does Luke 11 refer to the Father giving the Holy Spirit? To be honest with you, I used to think, What if I wasn’t asking for the Holy Spirit? What if I was asking for something else? Why does Jesus say the Father gives the Holy Spirit in response to our prayers?

The answer to this question uncovers the beauty of the Spirit of God in our lives.

Think about it this way. Maybe you are going through a struggle in your life. A tragedy strikes you or someone close to you, and you are hurting. So you go to God in prayer, and you ask him to comfort you. Do you realize what God does? He doesn’t give you comfort. Instead he gives you the Holy Spirit, who is called the Comforter. The Holy Spirit literally comes to dwell in you and puts the very comfort of Christ inside you as you walk through your pain.

Suppose another time you are making a big decision in your life, and you need help. You have a couple of different options before you, and you need guidance to decide which way is best. So you ask God for help. But he doesn’t answer with guidance. Instead he answers by sending the Holy Spirit, who is our Guide. God sends the Helper, who will live in you and not only tell you what decision to make but also enable you to make that decision.

Yet another time you need discernment, and God gives you the Spirit of wisdom. At other times you need strength, and God gives you the Spirit of power. Still other times you ask God for love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, and he gives you the Spirit, who makes all these things reality in your life.

The Holy Spirit is the Comforter, the Helper, the Guide, the very presence of God living in you.

This is the great promise of God in prayer. We ask God for gifts in prayer, and he gives us the Giver. We ask God for supply, and he gives us the Source. We ask God for money, and he doesn’t give us cash; instead, so to speak, he gives the bank!

— David Platt, Radical , (Colorado Springs, CO: Multnomah, 2010), 57-58

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Did the Holy Spirit indwell believers in the OT?

I have found myself often in the minority position on this issue.  I believe the answer to the question is, “Yes, the Holy Spirit indwelt believers in the OT.  I was taught this in seminary and have studied this question often throughout the years as well.

My former professor Dr. Bob McCabe of Detroit Baptist Theological Seminary addresses this issue quite well in this post. I’d encourage you to take a look at it!

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Have you received the Holy Spirit?

What is the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives?

How will we know if we have received the Holy Spirit?

Momentous questions that James Smith answers well here.

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A primer on the Spirit

The theology class that meets at our church each week has recently completed the doctrine of the Holy Spirit. Here’s helpful chart here on the doctrine of the Holy Spirit that Terry produced. This one-page PDF provides a brief but excellent summary.

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