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12-BECAUSE OF ITS
TEACHING ON HOLY SPIRIT & SPIRITUAL GIFTS.
The subject of the Holy Spirit is one of the most mis-understood
of all religious topics. Many people claim to have the gift of the Holy
Spirit, but don't know in what measure they have it. Others say that it is
impossible to get it all, and still others that only a select few can
obtain it. And then there is disagreement about how one will react if he
does have it. For that reason we propose to review it with you now.
I. THE COMMON GIFT OF THE SPIRIT. By
the common gift, we mean the gift common to all who obey the gospel of
Christ. This gift is mentioned in the following passages: Acts 2:38, "Then
Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name
of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift
of the Holy Ghost." In Gal. 4:6 it reads, "And
because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your
hearts, crying, Abba Father." Also in Acts 5:32, "And
we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom
God hath given to them that obey him."
It is evident that every obedient child of God receives
the Holy Spirit. It is received at baptism. This common gift was not
super-natural. It is the Spirit-clothing put on at baptism, Rom. 8:9. In
Eph. 1:13-14 we are told that this clothing is part payment in advance of
the ultimate and ideal clothing of eternity. This then is what we mean by
the common gift of the Spirit.
II. THE GIFT THROUGH THE LAYING ON OF HANDS. This
gift of the Spirit is entirely distinct from the one just noticed. The
above gift always immediately followed baptism. The laying on of hands
always imparted supernatural power; the gift just discussed never imparted
supernatural power. ONLY APOSTLES COULD IMPART THIS GIFT. IT WAS IMPARTED
THROUGH THE LAYING ON OF THE APOSTLES HANDS. There were nine such gifts. Please
turn in your Bible and read I Cor 12:8-12. The
nine gifts may be outlined as follows:
1. THE GIFT OF THE WORD OF WISDOM.
2. THE GIFT OF THE WORD OF KNOWLEDGE.
3. THE GIFT OF SUPERNATURAL FAITH.
4. THE GIFT OF HEALING.
5. THE GIFT OF THE WORKING OF MIRACLES.
6. THE GIFT OF PROPHECY.
7. THE GIFT OF THE DISCERNING OF SPIRITS.
8. THE GIFT OF TONGUES.
9. THE GIFT OF THE INTERPRETATION OF TONGUES.
Let us now find an example of this type of gift of the
Holy Spirit in the New Testament. In Acts 8:14-19 it reads, "Now
when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received
the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: Who, when they were
come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: (For
as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the
name of the Lord Jesus.) Then laid their hands on them, and they received
the Holy Ghost. And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles
hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, Saying, Give me
also this power that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy
Ghost." This is an example of the apostles laying hands on
people and imparting the power of the Holy Spirit unto them. Realizing the
possible gain from such, Simon wanted to buy the power. But of course he
couldn't. We need to emphasize the fact that nobody, other than the
apostles, had this power of imparting these gifts.
III. BAPTISMAL MEASURE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. Now
we wish to study the highest form of spiritual gifts. This is the ultimate
gift of the Spirit. It was never imparted through the laying on of the
apostles hands to anybody at any time, but always came directly from God.
It was never commanded of anyone, but was merely a promise to the
apostles. Thus those who claim that a reception of it is necessary to
salvation, just do not understand the teaching of the Bible on this
subject. There are only two cases of it in the entire Bible. Let us notice
both of them carefully: Acts 2:1-5, "And when the day of
Pentecost was 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 all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto
them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And
they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other
tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. And there were dwelling at
Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven." This
case of Holy Spirit baptism is given to the apostles only. It enabled them
to preach and perform miracles in spreading the gospel of the kingdom.
They also spoke in "other tongues" which
happened to be other languages. However, this speaking in tongues was not
some non-sense which could not be understood. It was not some jabber
incoherent to both speaker and hearer. The next case of Holy Spirit
baptism is in Acts 10:44-48 and takes place at the conversion of Cornelius
and his household. The purpose is to show that God has accepted the
Gentiles, and given them every right and privilege to obey the gospel of
Christ, as given to the Jews. In fact, Cornelius was told by the angel, as
referenced in Acts 11:14, to send for Peter "...who
shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be
saved." Notice Acts 10:44-48, "While
Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard
the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as
many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out
the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and
magnify God. Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these
should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?
And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed
they him to tarry certain days."
This covers the two examples of Holy Spirit Baptism in
the New Testament. To confuse this gift of the Holy Spirit with the other
two is a very serious mistake that is responsible for much of the
confusion in the world today.
Since the apostles and those in Acts 10 are the only
ones who ever received Holy Spirit Baptism, we have no reason for
supposing that it still exists today. No one, except the apostles, was
ever promised it. It never was a general promise to all people. Also,
since the apostles were the only ones who could lay hands on a person and
impart spiritual gifts, it logically follows then that when the last
apostle died, this power ceased. When the last man died upon whom an
apostle had laid hands, then there were no longer miraculous
manifestations of the Spirit in existence. This leaves only the common
gift of the Spirit in existence today. That gift which every obedient
baptized believer receives. However, remember that even in the days of the
apostles this common gift carried no miraculous power with it. Thus there
is no reason to assume that it carries any with it today, regardless of
the fact that some people claim to do miracles that are just an illusional
shadow of what Jesus and the apostles did.
In John 16:7-14, we have a list of things set forth that
the Holy Spirit would do as a part of His work. The following things are
mentioned: 1)He will convict the world of sin, of righteousness,
and of judgment; 2)guide the apostles into all truth; 3)bring to the
remembrance of the apostles all that Christ said; and 4)He will glorify
Christ.
1. THE HOLY SPIRIT WAS NOT
GIVEN TO MAKE PEOPLE BRAG or BOAST OF THEIR POWER. Simon in Acts
8:9-12 is a case in point. This man was somewhat of a magician. He dazzled
people with his works and power. He was, however, converted to Christ. As
he followed the Apostles around he saw not only their miracles, but their
power to lay hands on people, thus imparting to them the power to work
miracles. Simon wanted that power so much that he offered the Apostles
money in order to receive it. His motive was wrong. He was told, "Thy
money perish with thee." Today, we see and hear many who
boast of their power to heal the sick, raise the dead, etc. Some even
write books about their "Greatest Miracles." The Holy Spirit
doesn't make people boast of their ability to work miracles. The Holy
Spirit came to glorify Christ, not Himself (John 16:14).
2. THE HOLY SPIRIT WAS NOT
GIVEN TO KEEP PEOPLE ALWAYS WELL. The idea that God never allows
His people to get sick and does not want them to seek medical help when
they are sick, is against Bible teaching. Paul told Timothy to drink "...a
little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities" 1
Tim. 5:23. Paul did not say "just have faith" or "the Holy
Spirit will heal you." Notice also that Paul left Trophimus at
Miletum sick (2 Tim. 4:20). Why didn't Paul heal Trophimus? The answer is
simple, the power of the Holy Spirit was never for the purpose of just
making sick people well. Even Paul himself had infirmity of the flesh,
according to Gal. 4:13. Why then does the Bible speak of people being
physically healed by the power of God? The answer lies in the purpose
behind miracles. Notice John 11:15, "And I am glad for your
sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe." The
real motive was to produce faith. Today God's word produces faith
according to Rom. 10:17, "So then faith cometh by hearing,
and hearing by the word of God." We do not need miracles
today to produce faith since we have the Bible. But, miracles also
confirmed the truth. Hebrews 2:3-4, "How shall we escape, if
we neglect so great salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by
the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; God also
bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers
miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to His own will?" In
short, the scripture says that miracles certified the message by
authenticating the messenger. Thus by means of miracles Jesus was shown to
be "...a man approved of God unto you..." - Acts
2:22. We are told in 2 Cor. 12:12 that Paul's miracles were the "sign
of an apostle." Those today who claim to have power to make
sick people well fail to realize why the apostles healed people in the
first century. It was not just for the purpose of making them well, but
served to confirm the word of God and produce faith in people's hearts and
then obedience.
3. THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL NOT CAUSE YOU TO FALL
AND ROLL AROUND ON THE GROUND OR INJURE YOURSELF. With many,
excitement is the name of the game. They run, shout, jump church pews,
roll on the ground, get dirty and often injure themselves. Some even teach
that rolling on the ground and getting dirty shows submission to the Holy
Spirit. Others claim that rolling and jumping are actually a sign that the
Holy Spirit has come upon them. However, note the behavior of the Apostles
when they received the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-4; 10:44-46), there is no
hint of this type of behavior. If we examine such behavior as it is given
in scripture, we learn its true source. In Acts 19:13-16 and Mark 5:1-5 we
find people hurting themselves and jumping on others. What caused them to
act in such a way? The Bible says it was an "evil spirit", not
the Holy Spirit.
4. THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL NOT SAVE YOU SEPARATE
AND APART FROM THE WORD OF GOD. Some teach today that the Holy
Spirit must work on you from within before you can be saved. An experience
better felt than told. They claim that it is impossible for a man to come
to God unless the Holy Spirit directly calls him. This teaching has led
some to claim they have seen "bright lights," or had
"visions," "heard voices in the night," etc., all of
which prove that the Holy Spirit has called them. However, in the matter
of salvation, pardon comes from and takes place in the mind of God. "Let
the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let
him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him, and to our God,
for he will abundantly pardon." - Isaiah 55:7. This being
the case, any evidence of pardon must come from God and not from within
ourselves. For me to say that "I have been saved because I saw a
bright light", means nothing since God has said nothing about such an
experience being evidence of my pardon. Hence, the only way I can know
that I have been pardoned is to comply with God's laws that offer pardon.
5. THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL NOT PROTECT YOU FROM
TEMPTATION, OR KEEP YOU FROM SINNING WITHOUT YOUR HELP. Some
people claim to be immunized from temptation and sin by the Holy Spirit.
And yet many of us know people today who have in time past claimed the
Holy Spirit's leading that are living in sin, some even serving prison
terms. We have Bible accounts of men like Peter and Barnabas, who received
the Holy Spirit, who were tempted and sinned. However, this did not
protect them from sinning. They, as we, have to cooperate with God by
obeying His commands if we are to live above sin. Paul writes in 1 Cor.
9:27, "But I keep under my body, and bring it into
subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I
myself should be a castaway." There is no magical wand that
the Holy Spirit waves over people to protect them from Satan. (See
Gal. 2:11-14 for reference.) To so teach is to mislead people and
offer them hope that is false and unfounded.
6. THE HOLY SPIRIT DID NOT COME TO MAKE PEOPLE
RICH. There are some who teach "prosperity doctrines."
The idea is that God intends for none of his children to be poor. The
promise of riches lures many of these men and their false doctrines.
People who can ill afford it often send in their last dollars, believing
that their donation will somehow return making them rich. They are told to
"plant a seed of faith." This interprets into "send me some
money." The truth is that the only ones getting rich are the
preachers of this false and misleading doctrine. They prey upon the
innocent and unsuspecting. What a tragedy. Peter spoke of false teachers
like these in 2 Peter 2:3, "And through covetousness shall
they with feigned words make merchandise of you..." These
false teachers were motivated by personal gain. They used words artfully
and skillfully forged for the occasion. Many are active in the same field
today. The Holy Spirit did not come to earth to make people rich, and
those who so claim misrepresent God's Word.
May we all respect this third person of the Godhead. May
we honor Him for revealing the blessed word of God, for the fact that He
inspired the apostles and guided them into all truth. To forget these
things and ascribe to Him things that were not a part of His work and
mission is to do a great injustice to God, His word, and the Holy Spirit.
Closing Remarks - Right
Attitude Towards The Scriptures
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