Baptised in the Spirit

• Who? What? How?

• If he is God, how is he differentiated from God? If not, what is he?

• How do we know it is in us? How is it in us? Does it ever leave us?

• Is he the same as our conscience? Does he help us make decisions?

• How should we expect to see/feel the Spirit at work in our lives?

• If the Holy Spirit is in/with me, why does it often not feel like it?

• Where does the Holy Spirit at work in people end and people at work in God’s name begin?

• What are the gifts of the Holy Spirit?

• If I can’t prophesy/speak in tongues, does that make me a poor Christian?

• In meetings, is it right to ask the Holy Spirit to fill the room? I thought he was already there.

• How should we respond to or view churches that focus more on the presence and the work of the Holy Spirit among them when that involves “weird” (or just different?) scenes – screaming, wailing, crying, etc?

• Have miraculous gifts ceased or not? What should we think of those who say they have or haven’t?

• What is the function of the Spirit in relation to Jesus?

• Was the Holy Spirit on earth before Jesus left it – as in, in people?

12 Nov Baptised in the Spirit 19 Nov Filled by the Spirit 26 Nov Gifts of the Spirit

StudentKnowingGod Autumn 2013

1. Who is the Holy Spirit?

a. He is a person

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. (Romans 8:27)

But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as he wills. (1 Corinthians 12:11)

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God (Ephesians 4:30)

But the Counsellor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. (John 14:26)

The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. (Romans 8:16)

When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment (John 16:8)

Because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. (Romans 8:14)

But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. (John 16:13)

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. (Romans 8:26)

Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been prevented 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. (Acts 16:6-7)

Then Peter said, "Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? (Acts 5:3)

"You stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are just like your fathers: You always resist the Holy Spirit!" (Acts 7:51)

� what wrong views of the Spirit does this rule out?

b. He is God

The Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, “Let there be light…” (Genesis 1:2,3)

The “Spirit of God” 28 times, e.g. “The Spirit of God dwells in you” (1 Corinthians 3:16)

“Holy Spirit” 96 times

The Lord, who is the Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:18)

“the eternal Spirit” (Hebrews 9:14)

“Spirit of Jesus” (Acts 16:7; Philippians 1:9)

Also: Pentecost imagery in Acts 2 – fire!

� what wrong views of the Spirit does this rule out?

c. He is not the Father, and he is not Jesus

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counsellor to be with you forever-- the Spirit of truth. (John 14:16)

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. (John 15:26)

Unless I go away, the Counsellor will not come to you, but if I go, I will send him to you… because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer. … All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you. (John 16:7,10,15)

God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact. Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. (Acts 2:32-33)

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 28:19)

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

� what wrong views of the Spirit does this rule out?

d. He is the “third person of the Trinity”

ONE GOD: The Father is God, the Son is God, the Holy Spirit is God. THREE PERSONS: The Father, Son and Spirit are distinct persons.

Try to illustrate this by analogy… eggs, apples, water, clover… it doesn’t work! A (possibly) helpful diagram:

� this may be mind-bending, but it is also wonderful!

2. What is baptism in the Spirit? a. It didn’t happen in the Old Testament!

Prophets, priests, kings… and others. Sometimes just temporarily.

NB The Holy Spirit must have been at work in all true OT believers, because without the Spirit there is no conviction of sin (John 16:8), and no true understanding of God’s Word. 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. (1 Corinthians 2:14)

b. Jesus came to baptise people in the Spirit

“He will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.” (Mt 3:11; Mk 1:8; Lk 3:16-22; 11:13)

Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. I would not have known him, except the one who sent me to baptise with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptise with the Holy Spirit.’” (John 1:32-33)

c. At Pentecost, the disciples were baptised in the Spirit

“John baptised with water, but in a few days you will be baptised with the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 1:5)

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… (Acts 2:2-3)

d. Baptism in the Spirit is promised to all believers

“In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people… Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days.” (Acts 2:17,18, citing Joel 2:28-32)

“[Jesus] has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. … Repent and be baptised, 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. The promise is for you and your children and all who are far off – for all whom the Lord our God will call.” (Acts 2:33, 38-39)

Q: Can you be a Christian today and not be baptised in the Spirit? Read: Romans 8:9-11; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Titus 3:4-7 ANSWER: ______

Q: But what about the weird delays in Acts 8:14-17 and 19:1-7? We’re meant to think “that’s weird, what’s the hold-up!” These seem to be foundational moments for the gospel reaching new groups in Acts.

� what wrong views of baptism in the Spirit does this rule out?

e. If you have been baptised in the Spirit, God is present with you, living in you now, and he will never depart

We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. (1 John 4:13)

Romans 5:5; 8:15-16; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19-20; Ephesians 2:13,14

Recap The Holy Spirit is…

• A person � Not an impersonal force. Say “he” not “it”!

• God � Not someone else with a different agenda.

• Not the Father, and not Jesus � Not just an alternative form of Father or Son; a distinct person

• The “Third Person of the Trinity” � ONE GOD: The Father is God, the Son is God, the Holy Spirit is God. � THREE PERSONS: The Father, Son and Spirit are distinct persons.

Baptism in the Spirit is…

• God’s presence with you, living in you, for ever

• Given by Jesus to all believers since Pentecost

• A promise, received immediately when we repent, not a “second blessing” to be sought which only some receive

12 Nov Baptised in the Spirit 19 Nov Filled by the Spirit 26 Nov Gifts of the Spirit

StudentKnowingGod Autumn 2013

“…be filled with the Spirit…” (Ephesians 5:18)

• “Full of the Spirit” as a description of individuals – Jesus (Luke 4:1), disciples (Acts 6), Stephen (Acts 7:55), Barnabas (Acts 11:24). Seems to be describing a defining characteristic, same words as “full of leprosy” (Luke 5:12) and “full of all kinds of deceit and trickery” (Acts 13:10)

• “Filled with the Spirit” as an event happening to individuals: WHO? RESULT: John the Baptist to be a prophet (Luke 1:15) Elizabeth and Zechariah to speak/prophecy (Luke 1:41-42, 67) Disciples at Pentecost to prophesy, proclaim the gospel, speak tongues (Acts 2) Peter (again) to testify about Jesus to the authorities (Acts 4:8) Disciples at prayer to speak the word of God boldly (Acts 4:31) Saul/Paul to preach that Jesus is the Son of God (Acts 9:17,20) Paul (again) to speak judgement on Elymas (Acts 13:9) Disciples to speak the word of the Lord (Acts 13:49-14:3)

� Christians should be full of the Spirit, and seeking to be filled by him!

1. God speaks by his Spirit

“Ruach” (OT Hebrew) “Pneuma” (NT Greek) (a) The Spirit spoke creation into existence

1In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. 3And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. (Genesis 1:1-3)

By the word of the LORD were the heavens made, their starry host by the breath [=ruach, Spirit] of his mouth. (Psalm 33:6) (b) The Spirit speaks as creation continues

By his breath [=ruach, Spirit] the skies became fair. (Job 26:13)

All creatures look to you… When you send your Spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the ground. (Psalm 104:27,30)

The Spirit of God has made me; the breath of the Almighty gives me life. (Job 33:4) (c) The Spirit spoke through the prophets

I wish that all the LORD’s people were prophets and that the LORD would put his Spirit on them!’ (Numbers 11:29)

These are the last words of David… “The Spirit of the Lord spoke through me; his word was on my tongue…” (2 Samuel 23:1,2)

� BOTH mean “wind” or “breath”

“And now the Sovereign LORD has sent me, endowed with his Spirit. This is what the LORD says – your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel…” (Isaiah 48:16-17)

But as for me, I am filled with power, with the Spirit of the LORD, and with justice and might, to declare to Jacob his transgression, to Israel his sin (Micah 3:8)

Then the Spirit of the LORD came on me, and he told me to say: ‘This is what the LORD says: (Ezekiel 11:5)

You gave your good Spirit to instruct them… By your Spirit you warned them through your prophets. (Nehemiah 9:20,30) (d) The Spirit spoke through Jesus

A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. 2The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him – the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the LORD – 3and he will delight in the fear of the LORD. (Isaiah 11:1-3)

The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, 2to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favour and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, (Isaiah 61:1-2; Luke 4:18)

For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit. (John 3:34) (e) The Spirit spoke through the apostles

The Counsellor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. … 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. … When he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. … All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you. … He breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit” (John 14:26; 15:26; 16:13,15; 20:22) (f) The Spirit spoke the Bible

Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. (2 Peter 1:20-21)

David, speaking by the Spirit… (Matthew 22:43; Mark 12:36); The Holy Spirit spoke long ago through David (Acts 1:16; cf. 4:25); The Holy Spirit was showing by this that… (Heb 9:8) (g) The Spirit still speaks the Bible today

Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground. (Psalm 143:10)

As the Holy Spirit says, “Today, if you hear his voice…” …for the Word of God is living and active. (Heb 3:7, citing Ps 95:7ff; 4:12 see also Hebrews 10:15,17) All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness. (2 Timothy 3:16)

2. Be filled with the Spirit Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. 17Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, 19addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, 20giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. (Ephesians 5:15-21) 16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Colossians 3:16-17) What does the comparison teach you about how being filled by the Spirit happens? What is the purpose of the contrast with drunkenness in Eph 5:18? How will Spirit-filled Christians relate to one another? What sort of difference will being filled with the Spirit make to how a person lives? (Glance through Ephesians 5-6 and Colossians 3-4)

Gifts of the Spirit

Recap: The Holy Spirit is… a person – God himself! But he is not the Father, and not Jesus; he’s a distinct person, the “Third Person of the Trinity”. Spirit (ruach in OT Hebrew, pneuma in NT Greek) could equally be translated “wind” or “breath”. God spoke and speaks by his Spirit in creation, through the prophets, through Jesus, through the apostles, and (see below) through believers today. Baptism in the Spirit is… God’s presence with you in person, living in you forever, given by Jesus to all believers since Pentecost. He is a “deposit guaranteeing our inheritance”, without whom we could not receive the gospel or put our faith in God. He is a promise, received immediately as we repent, not a “second blessing” to be sought which only some receive. Being filled with the Spirit is… both a description and a command; some in the New Testament are described as “full of” the Spirit, i.e. characterised by the Spirit’s influence. But those same people might be “filled with” the Spirit at particular times, always in order to speak the words of God in various ways – preaching, testifying to authorities, prophesying, speaking in tongues. We too are called to “be filled with the Spirit” and therefore speak and sing (Ephesians 5:19)

12 Nov Baptised in the Spirit 19 Nov Filled by the Spirit 26 Nov Gifts of the Spirit

StudentKnowingGod Autumn 2013

1. The Spirit gives power to God’s people (a) The Spirit’s empowering in the Old Testament

Then the LORD said to Moses, 2 ‘See I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, 3 and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills – 4 to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, 5 to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of crafts. (Exodus 31:1-5; cf. 35:31)

16The Lord said to Moses: ‘Bring me seventy of Israel’s elders who are known to you as leaders and officials among the people. Make them come to the tent of meeting, that they may stand there with you. 17I will come down and speak with you there, and I will take some of the power of the Spirit that is on you and put it on them. They will share the burden of the people with you so that you will not have to carry it alone. (Numbers 11:16-17)

The Spirit of the Lord came on… Othniel – “so that he became Israel’s judge and went to war” (Judges 3:10) Gideon – “and he blew a trumpet” calling Israel to arms (Judges 6:34ff) Jephthah – “and from there he advanced agains the Ammonites” (Judges 11:29) Samson – “so that he tore the lion apart with his bare hands” … “he went down to Ashkelon, struck down thirty of their men” … “the ropes on his arms became like charred flax, and the bindings dropped from his hands; finding a fresh jawbone of a donkey, he grabbed it and struck down a thousand men.” (Judges 14:6,19; 15:14-15)

Then the Spirit came on Amasai, chief of the Thirty, and he said: ‘We are yours, David! We are with you, son of Jesse! Success, success to you, and success to those who help you, for your God will help you.’ So David received them and made them leaders of his raiding bands. (1 Chronicles 12:18)

“The Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon him/them” (Judges 14:6,19; 15:14-15; 1 Samuel 10:6,10; 11:6)

(b) The Spirit’s empowering of Jesus

“Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will bring justice to the nations… In faithfulness he will bring forth justice; he will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth.” (Isaiah 42;1,3,4)

“Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit” (Luke 4:14)

“Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit…” (Luke 10:21)

“…it is by the Spirit of God that I drive out demons” (Matthew 12:28)

“You know… 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 blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God” (Heb 9:14)

“He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit” (1 Peter 3:18)

(c) The Spirit’s empowering of believers now

• He gives salvation…

“He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Saviour” (Titus 3:5-6)

“…you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” (1 Cor 6:11)

• He gives belief in God’s Word…

For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. … when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe. (1 Thess 1:4-5; 2:13)

4My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, 5so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power. … 14The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. 15The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments, 16for, ‘Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?’ But we have the mind of Christ. (1 Cor 2:4-5,14-16)

• He gives godliness and growth…

So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh… 22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. (Gal 5:16, 22)

…by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body (Rom 8:13)

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Rom 15:13)

‘In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.’ 19These are the people who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit. 20But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, 21keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. (Jude v18-21)

• He enables bold and faithful witness

You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses (Acts 1:8)

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. (Acts 4:31)

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 (2 Tim 1:7,8)

Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you--guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us. (2 Tim 1:14)

Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers (Acts 20:28)

• He will raise you from the dead!

If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who lives in you. (Rom 8:11)

2. The Spirit gives gifts to the church

“Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant…” (1 Corinthians 12:1) (a) Lists of gifts in the NT Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. 7If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully. (Romans 12:4-8) 7But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. 8This is why it says: "When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men." … 11It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. … 16From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. (Ephesians 4:7-8,11-13,16)

Does this help you love and appreciate the Holy Spirit more? Why? How does this helpfully set the scene for our discussion of the gifts of the Spirit?

There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. 7Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. 11All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines. (1 Corinthians 12:4-11) 27Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 28And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. 29Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? (1 Corinthians 12:27-30) 10Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. 11If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen. (1 Peter 4:10-11)

� SO:

14The body is not made up of one part but of many. 15If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. 16And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. 17If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20As it is, there are many parts, but one body. 21The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!" …25there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honoured, every part rejoices with it. 27Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. (1 Corinthians 12:25-27)

Many people have tried to make a complete, exhaustive list of the gifts the Holy Spirit gives. Do you think that is a good idea? What are the Spirit’s gifts for? What are they therefore not for?

(b) Are the “miraculous” gifts for today?

Four very common views:

i. “PENTECOSTAL” After conversion, Christians should seek to be baptised in the Spirit, the chief sign of which is speaking in tongues. All the gifts in the New Testament are still given to today’s church in exactly the same form, to those baptised in the Spirit. But: - All Christians are baptised in the Spirit (Rom 8:9-11; 1 Cor 12:13; Titus 3:4-7) - The Bible does not expect everyone to speak in tongues (1 Cor 12:30) - Foundational apostles and prophets no longer exist (John 14:26 etc; Acts 1:21- 22; Eph 2:20; 3:5; Cor 15:7-8; 1 Cor 14:37; 2 Tim 1:13-14; 2 Peter 1:12-16; cf. introductions to Paul’s letters where only Paul is an apostle)

ii. “CESSATIONIST” The miraculous gifts were in place only until the completion of the New Testament, then they ceased, being no longer needed – mostly on the basis of 1 Cor 13:8-13. Some cessationists believe God still might work miracles (e.g. of healing) today, but certainly not the revelatory gifts like prophecy and tongues, since that would deny the sufficiency of Scripture as God’s finished and final revelation to us this side of heaven. (Recently associated with John MacArthur and his “Strange Fire” conference) But: - 1 Cor 13:8-13 is about the new creation, not the completion of Scripture! - Scripture nowhere teaches the cessation of miraculous gifts - Although prophecy can be exercised in a way that threatens the authoritative revelation of the apostles, Paul teaches that when exercised rightly there will be no such threat (1 Cor 14:29,37; 1 Thess 5:19-21)

iii. “CHARISMATIC” Very varied! Generally teach (correctly) that baptism of the Spirit happens at conversion, sometimes teach (correctly) that there are no foundational apostles today. Tend to read the gospels and Acts as depicting “normal” levels of miraculous activity, so have a high level of expectancy about miracles in daily life and in meetings. Tend to promote “power evangelism” where signs and wonders ought to accompany the spread of the gospel. Tend to have very definite definitions of the gifts (wisdom, faith, tongues, interpretation, discernment etc) which the Bible simply does not provide. Tend to read 1 Corinthians 12-14 without realising how much Paul is criticising that church! Can often be more excited by what is apparently miraculous than by the “normal” preaching and teaching of the Word. (In the UK: HTB, New Wine, New Frontiers, Soul Survivor, Spring Harvest, etc)

� We are, or should be, charismatics!

Many positives! And many great churches/teachers identify as charismatic. But: - Don’t be naïve! Lots of pressure to produce/experience the miraculous; lots of falsely “hearing” God’s voice; lots of fake miracles; lots of poor handling/sidelining of Scripture; lots of unbalanced views of when/how the Spirit is at work.

iv. “CAUTIOUS CONTINUATIONIST” Agrees with charismatics that the gifts have not ceased, and convinced that God still does work miraculously today. Wanting to be humbly open to God choosing to work any gift in whomever he will, at whatever point (within the guidelines set out in the Bible, esp. 1 Corinthians 12-14). Yet concerned that the charismatic “movement” is generally too careless in its teaching and expectations about the gifts and how God gives them today, in a way that does, regularly, threaten the authoritative place of Scripture and misunderstand the Holy Spirit.

• Miracles are not evenly distributed in Scripture, but are very prevalent around certain key turning points in salvation history:

- The Exodus (plagues, parting of the Red Sea, feedings in the desert, etc)

- Elijah/Elisha (preventing the crisis of Israel all deserting God for Baal)

- Daniel (preventing the dying out of faith in exile)

- JESUS! (testifying to his nature and power to undo sin and its symptoms)

- The foundational apostles (see Acts 4:29-30; 5:12; and especially 2 Corinthians 12:12) – often in a way that strikingly resembles Jesus’s miracles, to make the point that they are his authorised successors (e.g. Acts 9:32-35 & Mark 2:1-12; Acts 9:36-42 & Mark 5:35-42). Peter and Paul are singled out, with some striking parallel miracles (earthquakes to get out of jail in 12:5-10 & 16:22-34; healings of the lame in 3:1-10 & 14:8-10; raising the dead in 9:36-43 & 20:7-12)

- other believers to a lesser extent (E.g. Stephen and Philip in Acts 6:8 and 8:13, teaching in e.g. 1 Corinthians 12-14.)

• Great care needs to be taken with having a balanced reading of Scripture which carefully follows its plot-line. The NT letters do not encourage us towards a “signs and wonders” ministry. They emphasize that God can give “miraculous” gifts whenever he chooses, so we must trust him and be humbly open to that – but very little teaching is given to such things – and when it is, the church concerned is being strongly criticised (see 1 Cor 11:17!)

But: - Don’t lapse into functional cessationism

- Don’t put out the Spirit’s fire by “treating prophecies with contempt” (1 Thess 5:19-20) or by forbidding tongues (1 Corinthians 14:39)

- Don’t pray for the sick without a sense that God could grant “miraculous” healing, should he so choose, but humbly acknowledge that he may choose to heal in the new creation rather than today.

- Don’t ignore passages in Scripture about spiritual gifts! Spend time working out how they can be understood better than they often are, and seek to obey them.

“Throughout the Bible, miracles consistently serve to point people to the one true God, ultimately revealed in Jesus Christ. Their primary purpose is not to meet human need, although that is an important spinoff blessing. But they are first of all theocentric and Christocentric, demonstrating the God of Israel and of Jesus to be supreme over all rivals. Contemporary experience suggests that this pattern continues; miracles today seem most frequent in regions where Satan has long held sway and where people require "power evangelism" to be converted. But God's sovereignty warns against trying to predict when they may occur and refutes the "name it and claim it" heresy that tries to force God to work miracles upon demand, if only one exercises adequate faith.” (Craig L. Blomberg

3. How should we “eagerly desire spiritual gifts”?

1. Follow the way of love (1 Cor 13; 14:1) 2. Eagerly desire the “greater gifts” (1 Cor 12:31) prophecy is better than tongues! – why? (14v1-25) - because uninterpreted tongues are unintelligible to others (v1-12) - so they only edify (= build up) you, and no-one else - it is therefore infantile behaviour (v20) - and will instantly put off any visiting unbelievers! (v21-25) ���� seek to prophecy! 3. Test everything, hold on to the good

• order is better than disorder (14v26-40) - it’s not a competition! (v26-33) - everything needs to be weighed carefully (v29, cf. 1 Thess 5) - prophecies are subject to the apostolic (i.e. Scriptural) authority (v36-38)

QUESTIONS….?