TIME FOR CESSATIONISTS 

TO CEASE AND DESIST

Part Two

I finished the first part of this blog theme by stating that Pastor John MacArthur, Senior Pastor of Grace Community Church in Los Angeles, California since 1966, President of the Reformed theological seminary, Masters Seminary and Masters University- highly respected as a pastor and author, having written or edited well over one hundred and fifty books, in many respects has a theology that many across the body of Christ would agree with.

In relation to the Person and work of the Holy Spirit, the third member of the Godhead, there are also many aspects that most evangelicals as well as Pentecostals and Charismatics would agree with him about. For example, in the Doctrinal Statement of Masters College, concerning the Holy Spirit:

                The Holy Spirit is the Third Person of the Trinity, coequal, and coeternal with the Father and the Son

                The Holy Spirit is not merely a force or a power but a distinct divine person who thinks, wills, speaks and can be grieved

                We teach that it is the work of the Holy Spirit to execute the divine will with relation to all mankind. We recognize His sovereign activity in creation, the incarnation (the embodiment of God the Son in human flesh as Jesus Christ), the written revelation and the work of salvation.

                We teach that the work of the Holy Spirit in this age began at Pentecost when He was sent by the Father and the Son as promised by Christ to initiate and complete the building of the Body of Christ, which is the church. The Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin and righteousness and judgment, glorifies the Lord Jesus Christ and transforms believers  into the image of Christ

                We teach that the Holy Spirit is the supernatural agent in regeneration, indwelling believers, also sanctifies them, instructs them, empowers them for service and seals them unto the day of redemption

                We teach that the Holy Spirit is the divine Teacher, who guided the apostles and prophets into all truth as they wrote God's special revelation, the Bible. Every believer possesses the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit from the moment of salvation and it is the duty of all those born of the Spirit to be filled with the Spirit

                We believe that the Holy Spirit gives spiritual gifts to the church unto its edification.

All of the above statements are supported with Biblical references, which are able to be viewed on the Masters Seminary website. Just Google Masters Seminary. Click on the heading: Why TMS, then click on Doctrinal Statement.

It is the last statement concerning the ministry of the Holy Spirit that sets off alarm bells to MANY OF those who rightly divide the Word of God as Biblical truth to the church of Jesus Christ. John MacArthur and Masters Seminary hold to this belief:

                We teach that God, the Holy Spirit is sovereign in bestowing all His gifts for the perfecting of the saints today (1 Corinthians 12:4-11; Ephesians 4:7-12) - SO FAR SO GOOD - AND THAT SPEAKING IN TONGUES AND THE WORKING OF SIGN MIRACLES IN THE BEGINNING DAYS OF THE CHURCH HAVE NOW CEASED (1 Cor. 13:8-10; Ephesians 2:20), HAVING FULFILLED THEIR PURPOSE OF POINTING TO AND AUTHENTICATING THE APOSTLES AS REVEALERS OF DIVINE TRUTH (2 Corinthians 12:12; Hebrews 2:1-4). THE MIRACULOUS GIFTS WERE NEVER INTENDED TO BE CHARACTERISTIC OF THE LIVES OF BELIEVERS(e.g., 1 Timothy 5:23)

REALLY!!! I MEAN - REALLY!!!

One of the main texts that John MacArthur and other cessationists use to justify their position that the gifts of the Holy Spirit given in 1 Corinthians 12, as well as the so-called ascension-gift ministries of apostles and prophets given to the church by Jesus in Ephesians 4:11-13 have ceased is that when the canon of Scripture -the Bible was complete and all the early apostles had all died, that there was no more need for Christians to seek revelation from God outside the Word of God, and that the sign gifts of healing and miracles were no longer needed to authenticate God's truth.

They also justify their position by quoting 1 Corinthians 13:8-10 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.

For we know in part and we prophesy in part.

But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.

They believe that the statement: when that which is perfect has come to mean the completion of the canon of Scripture, the Bible as we know it today. This is very poor exegesis (exegesis= critical explanation or interpretation of a text, especially Scripture). Paul did not mean that. He meant that when Jesus comes back for His church, then we will have a full revelation of God- as it says in 1 Corinthians 13:11,12 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child, but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. We certainly do not yet see God face to face.

It is very sad that those of the Cessationist camp see the restoration of Holy-Spirit endowed supernatural gifts such as those listed in 1 Corinthians 12:4-11, and manifestations of God's Spirit being poured out in these days with Christians having dreams and visions, and NOW WORDS of Prophecy - as aberrations of the true expression of the Word of God.

In fact, since the beginning of the twentieth century, we have seen God restoring Pentecostal power and revelation gifts to the church, and in recent decades, other aspects of divine order coming back into leadership of the church, with the ministry offices of prophet and in more recent years, that of apostle being restored to the church.

I heard one of the leading Cessationist teachers, Steve Lawson, say in an online video: No one hears a word today! (from the Holy Spirit). REALLY!!!😲 He meant that if it is not in the Bible, it cannot be from God.

Another man said: No one has the gift of healing today!! Again, REALLY!! The pages of history of the church since the start of the last century are filled with the healing and miracle ministries of outstanding men AND women of God whose lives  and ministries have attested to the present-day manifestation of God's sign giftings being displayed for His glory, and because of His great love and compassion for people. People such as Maria Woodworth-Etter, Aimee Semple-Macpherson, Smith Wigglesworth, A.A. Allen, Oral Roberts, Kathryn Kuhlman, F.F.  Bosworth, and in more recent years, Australian healing ministries such as the late John Mellor and Mark Hemans. All of these servants of the Lord Jesus Christ had healings and outstanding miracles following the preaching of the Word of God, the Word of faith in God. Truly, the Bible is totally correct in saying about Jesus: Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.

The Spirit of God is moving today in Revival power! While darkness and evil are increasing in the world, God is on the move, bringing hope, healing and honor to the Living God, as the name of Jesus is being lifted up like a banner of righteousness for all to behold His glory. 

Jesus said in John 14:12 "Most assuredly I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these will he [or she] do, because I go to My Father." He did not say that these greater works would be done by the first apostles only. No, this was an encouragement to ALL BELIEVERS in Jesus for all time.

Also in the Great Commission as stated in Mark 16:15 And He said to them [the eleven remaining apostles], "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved, but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."

It is high time for Cessationists to cease and desist from promulgating their false doctrines relating to the operation of the Holy Spirit in the church today, and also in relation to other aberrant teachings such as that women should not preach or teach.

As Jesus said to those Jews who believed in Him, in John 8:32 "If you continue in My Word, then you shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free."

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!