Category Archives: Holy Spirit

Spiritual gifts – the case for cessationism

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For a long time, I have thought that the biblical case for cessationism (the belief that miraculous gifts ceased at the end of the apostolic age) was rather weak.  B.B. Warfield, whose name is so often associated with this belief, made his case (in Counterfeit Miracles) on historical, not scriptural grounds.

I was interested, then to read this essay by Thomas Schreiner in which he sets out the biblical-theological reasons for thinking that miraculous gifts have ceased.…

Where is Jesus?

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This may seem rather a pointless question, until we consider that it admits of two (if not more) possible answers:

  • Jesus is in my heart!
  • Jesus is in heaven!

Certainly, the first of these reflects what many Christians believe and say.  They talk about ‘accepting Christ’, or ‘receiving Jesus into the heart’.

As the old chorus would have us sing:

You ask me how I know he lives –
He lives within my heart!

The idea that Jesus resides ‘in the heart’ of the believer is not without some plausibility.…

Seven ways we quench the Spirit

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‘Do not quench the Spirit’, writes Paul in 1 Thessalonians 5:19.  What are some of the ways we do this?

Sam Storms:

1. We quench the Holy Spirit when we rely decisively on any resource other than the Holy Spirit for anything we do in life and ministry.

  • Any attempt to conjure up “hope” apart from that power which is the Spirit (Romans 15:13) is to quench him, as well as any effort to persevere in ministry and remain patient with joy by any other means than the Spirit (Colossians 1:11).
…

Jn 16:5-15 – When the Spirit comes (sermon notes)

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“When the Spirit comes” – John 16:5-15

It’s a horrible thought to try to imagine life without someone you dearly love.

The disciples were having to get used to the prospect of life without Jesus.

They are sharing one last meal with him.  He must leave them, they can expect to be treated with terrible hostility after his departure; but they’ve got to carry on without him and witness on his behalf before a hostile world. …

The Holy Spirit in the New Testament

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In the New Testament, the Holy Spirit is given as ‘”another (i.e. a second) Paraclete” (Jn. 14:16), taking over Jesus’ role as counsellor, helper, strengthener, supporter, adviser, advocate, ally (for the Gk. paraclētos means all of these).’

The personality of the Holy Spirit is clear: ‘Like the Father and the Son, he acts as only a person can do—he hears, speaks, convinces, testifies, shows, leads, guides, teaches, prompts speech, commands, forbids, desires, helps, intercedes with groans (Jn.…

The Holy Spirit in the Old Testament

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The ‘Holy Spirit’ is named as such only three times in the Old Testament: Psa 51:11; Isa 63:11, 12. The concept of ‘progressive revelation’ reminds us that the doctrine of the Holy Spirit, like a number of other doctrines, is present in the Old Testament only in embryonic form.

If the Christian era is identified as ‘the ministry of the Spirit’ (2 Cor 3:8) then it is to be expected that that era will be characterised by a clearer and fuller revelation of the person and work of the Spirit.…

On being filled with the Holy Spirit

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INTRODUCTION

If you are truly a Christian, then the Holy Spirit dwells in you, Roman 8:9.

There is no ‘Premier Division’ to be promoted to.  But we should all seek to be filled more and more by the Holy Spirit.

SOME EXAMPLES

John the Baptist, Luke 1:15;

Our Lord, Luke 4:1;

Peter, Acts 4:8;

Stephen, Acts 6:5; 7:55;

Saul, Acts 9:17; 13:9;

Barnabas, Acts 11:24.

We also read of larger numbers being filled at the same time, Acts 2:4; 4:31; 6:3; 13:52.…

The Holy Spirit

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INTRODUCING THE HOLY SPIRIT

Here are some of his names and titles:-

Breath of the Almighty…Power of the Most High…Spirit of power…Spirit of the Father…Spirit of the Living God…Eternal Spirit…Holy Spirit…Power of the Most High…Sevenfold Spirit…Spirit of the Lord…Spirit of fear of the  Lord…Spirit of life…Spirit of truth…Spirit of revelation…Spirit of knowledge…Spirit of understanding…Spirit of wisdom…Spirit of prophecy…Spirit of holiness…Spirit of glory…Spirit of fire…Spirit of counsel…Spirit of Christ…Spirit of sonship…Spirit of grace…

It is clear that we are talking about a Divine Being. …

The Spirit and Creation

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Atheism must regard the existence of the cosmos as inexplicable.  Pantheism (which undergirds Buddhism, Hinduism, and Taoism) robs God of his transcendence, by subsuming the divine within the universe  (‘all is one and all is God’).  Paganism believes that the divine is immanent in nature, and that spells, incantations and rituals enable the individual to control people’s destiny.  Gnosticism posits a dualism between spirit and matter, and has as its aim the ascending, through illumination and secret knowledge, up to God. …

Signs and wonders today?

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Does God grant signs and wonders in response to the prayers of Christians today?  Some very readily answer, ‘No’, and every scrap of interest or belief in contemporary miracles is dismissed as ‘strange fire’.  Others reply with a simple, ‘Yes!’, regarding any doubt of qualification as a quenching of the Holy Spirit.

I like John Piper‘s candour, when he tells us how much he has struggled over the question of whether we should pray, as the early Christians prayed (Acts 4:29-30), for such miracles today. …