TIME FOR CESSATIONISTS
TO CEASE AND DESIST
When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Acts 2:1-4
But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God,
That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh;
Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
Your young men shall see visions,
Your old men shall dream dreams.
And on My menservants and on My
maidservants
I will pour out My Spirit in those days;
And they shall prophesy.
And it shall come to pass
That whoever calls on the name of the
LORD
Shall
be saved. Acts 2:16-18, 21.
Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant.
There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.
Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.
1 Corinthians 12:1, 4-11, 27-31 NKJV
One day last week, I listened to a well-known Christian broadcaster here in Australia on a short radio segment highlighting notable Christians who have gone before. On this particular day, she spoke about Dr. John MacArthur, Senior Pastor of Grace Community Church in California. She stated that he has been pastor of this church since 1966 - indeed a truly amazing testimony to his longevity in ministry. He is now in his early eighties. She stated that he has written or edited well over 150 books. She further stated that MacArthur produced the MacArthur Study Bible, stating that she had one and it is her favourite study Bible, and it has sold over a million copies. That is also an amazing achievement. No doubt, many hundreds of hours went into the compiling of the study notes and theological comments on particular verses and passages throughout the Bible.
She further stated that he spent forty-three years expounding the New Testament to his church - book by book, chapter by chapter, verse by verse, line by line and word by word. Again, an indication of the thoroughness and the seriousness with which he considers the importance of the truth of the Word of God. Indeed John MacArthur is a strong proponent of expositional teaching of the Scriptures. He was President of Masters College and also founded Masters Seminary in 1986 to train young men for pastoral ministry.
She went on to say it would be safe to say that John MacArthur is one of the best Bible expositors alive on planet Earth today. The motto of his ministry is: Releasing God's Truth One Verse At A Time.
It is certainly true that many evangelical, Pentecostal and Charismatic leaders respect the veracity of much of his theology and cannot fault his teaching on subjects such as: The Word of God contained in the sixty-six books of the Bible were wholly inspired by the Holy Spirit, God-breathed, and that every word in the original texts was inerrant - without error, the sufficiency of Christ for salvation, the ministry of angels, and the pre-tribulation catching away of the saints to meet the Lord in the air, known as the Rapture. There are some areas of disagreement, such as Election and Eternal Security, key positions of the Reformed Church movement.
BUT, when it comes to the present day operation and gifting of the Holy Spirit in the life of the church - and the make-up of ministry giftings to the church for the equipping of believers for the work of the ministry, and areas such as women in ministry: THAT'S WHERE MACARTHUR'S AND OTHERS OF HIS PERSUASION FIND THEIR THEOLOGY GOING PEAR-SHAPED!
More: SOON!