CovenantInBlood said:
Except that in your illustration there is neither exegetical nor historcial substance to the argument.
Amen! That is the point. [Please hear the words that follow as a mild rebuke in love.] The same is true of the cessationist position. Not only does the Bible not teach the cessationist position, it is not historically verified either.
In the words of Martyn Lloyd Jones: "It is perfectly clear that in New Testament times, the gospel was authenticated in this way by signs, wonders and miracles of various characters and descriptions ... Was it only meant to be true of the early church? ... The Scriptures never anywhere say that these things were only temporary -- never! There is no such statement anywhere.
When the Spirit came upon individuals in the OT, there were times when that manfiested in prophetic utterances; utterances that did not make their way in to the Bible. But these occurences were a shadow of the things that were to come later.
Numbers 11:25-29 ESV Then the LORD came down in the cloud and spoke to him, and took some of the Spirit that was on him and put it on the seventy elders. And as soon as the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied. But they did not continue doing it. (26) Now two men remained in the camp, one named Eldad, and the other named Medad, and th Spirit rested on them. They were among those registered, but they had not gone out to the tent, and so they prophesied in the camp. (27) And a young man ran and told Moses, "Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp." (28) And Joshua the son of Nun, the assistant of Moses from his youth, said, "My lord Moses, stop them." (29) But Moses said to him, "Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the LORD's people were prophets, that the LORD would put his Spirit on them."
Moses was entirely right, he longed to see the day that all the people of God would be partakers of the Holy Spirit, making up a prophetic community that is now called the church.
Joel 2:28-29 ESV "And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. (29) Even on the male and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit."
Pentecost, we are told very clearly by Peter, was a fulfillment of Joel's prophecy, promising that the Holy Spirit would be poured out on all flesh--those who the Lord calls to himself. This is what Moses wanted, but more importantly, this is what God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit have planned for, for ages and ages.
Acts 2:16-18 ESV But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel: (17) "'And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; (18) even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy."
Notice that last phrase. Check the Joel passage again for those words. They are not there. Luke was inspired by God to to put them there seemingly to emphasize a point.
The promise is not just to them though, but to all the Lord will call to himself.
Acts 2:32-39 ESV This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. (33) Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. (34) For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says, "'The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at my right hand, (35) until I make your enemies your footstool.' (36) Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified." (37) Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?" (38) And Peter said to them, "Repent and be baptized 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. (39) For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself."
Why prophecy?
1 Corinthians 14:3 ESV On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation.
Those are great goals for the church. That is why Paul says, "Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy."
Look how Paul encourages Timothy with things that were prophesied:
1 Timothy 1:18 ESV This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare,
1 Timothy 4:14-16 ESV Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. (15) Practice these things, devote yourself to them, so that all may see your progress. (16) Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.
Paul teaches extensively on spiritual gifts in general, and prophecy in particular.
Romans 12:6-9 ESV Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; (7) if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; (8) the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. (9) Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.
1 Corinthians 11:4-5 ESV Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head, (5) but every wife who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head--it is the same as if her head were shaven.
1 Corinthians 12:7-11 ESV To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. (8) To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, (9) to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, (10) to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. (11) All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.
1 Corinthians 12:28-30 ESV And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. (29) Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? (30) Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?
1 Corinthians 14:1-4 ESV Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. (2) For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit. (3) On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. (4) The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church.
1 Corinthians 14:26-32 ESV What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up. (27) If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn, and let someone interpret. (28) But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silent in church and speak to himself and to God. (29) Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said. (30) If a revelation is made to another sitting there, let the first be silent. (31) For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged, (32) and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets.
1 Corinthians 14:37-40 ESV If anyone thinks that he is a prophet, or spiritual, he should acknowledge that the things I am writing to you are a command of the Lord. (38) If anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized. (39) So, my brothers, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. (40) But all things should be done decently and in order.
Ephesians 4:11-16 ESV And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, (12) to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, (13) until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, (14) so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. (15) Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, (16) from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
1 Thessalonians 5:19-21 ESV Do not quench the Spirit. (20) Do not despise prophecies, (21) but test everything; hold fast what is good.
Yes, there will be false prophets, but there will also be false teachers. Should we throw out the office of the teacher becasue there may arise false teachers?
2 Peter 2:1 ESV But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.
Don't you get the feeling that the Holy Spirit invested a lot of space in the Bible for these gifts?
Longing earnestly with you, for the glorious appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Kevin
Hudson Taylor
“Souls are perishing now for [our] lack of power…Let us ask Him to search us and remove all that hinders His working in us in large measure.”
