The Folly of Cessationism
Some will vehemently disagree with this, and that is certainly their prerogative.
In the days like today, when The Church, The Ekklesia, needs every weapon at her disposal, there are still those who deny the gifting brought by The Holy Spirit.
Yet only today, I was appalled but inspired by a quote on social media,
“Dear Cessationist: Denying the Holy Spirit’s power in us, you deny us the ability to effectively fulfill the Great Commission.”
— Ray E Horton
“Cessationism” states that all the gifts of The Holy Spirit died out with the apostles and the first Church!
The Great Commission tells us:
“And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. The one who has believed and has been baptized will be saved; but the one who has not believed will be condemned. These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues; they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not harm them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”” Mark 16:15-18 NASB.
The only parts of this I have a problem with are ‘picking up serpents’, although some do so deliberately, and drinking poison. But the Bible says “not to put The LORD to the test” except on the matter of tithing in Malachi 3:10. (See Deuteronomy 6:16 and Luke 4:12)
I also see no evidence scripturally that says that any of this has been cancelled.
So we are left with the Apostle Mark’s admonition and promise against an erroneous cessationist belief.
How do you exclude and deny the work of the third person of the God-head?
How do you reconcile Luke 5:12-16 with Cessationism?
Jesus said, “I am willing”, which in the Greek original is present continuous, meaning, “I am willing now and I will continue to be willing”.
It truly is folly to think, suggest, or state that these gifts have ceased when, demonstrably, they haven’t!
But this is just my ‘opinion’ — based upon nothing more than my personal experience and Witness of Prophecy, Healing, Deliverance, and meeting with those who were certified dead — but who today, also demonstrably, are very much alive and well!
Yet — there are even those who say there is no longer any baptism in The Holy Spirit — and to some it’s even demonic!
I will not argue with any who contend this. Rather I will allow them their opinion, and leave them to The LORD.
For me, and many others I know, the Baptism in The Holy Spirit, including speaking in Tongues, Prophecy, Healing and Deliverance Ministry are the greatest gifts I could have received after Salvation.
Without these gifts we would be lost. With them, we can fight the Spiritual War with confidence.
CGB — in fear of The LORD and gratitude!
~ Chris G. Bennett
Chris Bennett came to salvation in 1962 but didn’t begin ministry until 2007 — a late-comer! Now mandated by The LORD to prophesy and open old wells of revival in the U.K., but especially in Wales. He has also operated Healing Rooms, and worked with deliverance teams, all with his wife, Linda. Happily now doing whatever The LORD asks of them! Founder, with wife Linda, of their ministry The Upper Room Encounter.
John Baptist, the one God sent to Herald, literally, introduce Jesus to the world, introduced Jesus thus
“…He it is who will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with Fire…..”
So, to receive Jesus is to receive His works, and to receive His works is to receive His Baptisms.
We can then say, to reject the Baptism of the Spirit is to reject the one who baptizes in the Spirit.
And to reject the one who baptizes in the Spirit is to reject the One who sent Him to baptize with the Spirit.
2 Peter 2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privately shall bring in damnable heresies, EVEN DENYING THE LORD THAT BOUGHT THEM, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
I am watching several family members who have walked faithfully with the Lord for decades being sucked into this demonic doctrine. Hyperdispensationalism and Mid Acts/Pauline Grace Movement is cheap grace.
The idea that baptism is a work is nonsense. Obedience is not a work!
Without the protective covering of the baptism of the Holy Spirit we are susceptible to deception. Unforgivness and resentment also play a role. It burdens my heart that they are so far off track and so angry and so divisive! You cannot rebuke or correct them because we do not view scripture in the same light. It is a grievous error and “ a sort if godliness but denying the power.” Only through intercession and fervent prayer on their behalf can we hope to have the Spirit of God break through the deception and pride.
I don’t think you will get any who vehemently disagree with you on this site – lol
And I don’t understand either how they can not see in the Scriptures how the gifts of the Holy Spirit are for today
As this was originally posted on Facebook, I was anticipating the response. In fact it didn’t come! Most responses, as here on HKP, were positive, for which I am grateful.
Yes, and Amen!!!
I got saved in a church like this. I would clarify though, they state it is only the “sign gifts” that ceased. I started having visions and hearing God early in my walk, so I examined this belief carefully and discarded it. They based it on the verse that says the gifts will cease when what is perfect has come, then conclude the death on the cross is the perfect being described. I looked around and came to a different conclusion. The perfect will come when ALL has been brought under subjection and Jesus hands the world perfected back to God.
That said, I still ask for the baptism of the Holy Spirit and wonder if I will ever be given the gift of tongues or healing. I do seem to be able to cast out demons, but probably just lower orders. Purify me Lord, that I may be used for Your greater glory! Amen.
Jesus invites us to “taste and see” that He is good….and that truly all of the promises of God are “ ‘yes’ in God” but coupled by necessity with “our ‘Amen’ “….
Dear brother, Thank you for addressing this “head on”…Your thoughts are more than your opinion, based on the very truth of the Word of God….. Too often it is an intellectual form of religion that wars against LIFE in the Spirit!
Romans 8 clearly lays out the foundation of your premise of Truth of the Wird and Life in the Spirit!
Romans 8:6-9 (NKJV)
6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. 8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.
Each of us owes God and our fellow believers encounters with God that shape us into His kingdom and equip us to live for His glory. To live without is not evil, but it is living with a hand tied up. It is not the measure of God’s fullness. Holy Spirit has a lot more to give if we are yielded vessels.
Good understanding and clarity on this my brother. I so agree! God bless you.
Thank you Joyce. This level of unbelief has always puzzled and amazed me.
God bless you