Cessationism is a Christian theological doctrine stating that miraculous spiritual gifts—such as speaking in tongues, prophecy, and direct faith healing—ceased with the end of the apostolic age and the completion of the New Testament canon.
One thing I have observed among those who have led the church in America, and I mean the more respectable ones who are sound in doctrine (for the most part), is that there seems to be an issue with the gifts of the Spirit that the Lord gives to His church.
Friends, clearly, the whole purpose of the giftings is that we do not serve dumb idols.
“Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.” – 1 Corinthians 12:1
So I ask, why then would they suggest that healings are a thing of the past, that miracles are a thing of the past, the gifts of prophecy (though not new revelation) are a thing of the past, etc., when, in the face of all of their claims, the Lord has ceased from such giftings? Why then does the Lord remind us that He has not changed in both Malachi 3:6 and Hebrews 13:8?
Furthermore, when looking to the New Testament model, we find that repeatedly the gifts were manifested on their behalf.
Are these believers who just do not believe? I tend to agree with John G. Lake, who rightly said, “Those who teach that the day of miracles is past, teach the most disastrous lie that was ever told… Such lies are responsible for the prevalent lack of faith in God and have robbed Christianity of the power to demonstrate itself.”
I also find that when you do believe, and even partake with gifts of the Spirit, somehow, in their minds (the said believers), there is something off with you, when scripturally, there is something off with them.
I do understand the people’s concerns when it comes to the heresies within the ranks of false prophets and teachers. Yet, believers should know the biblical difference when it comes to the false prophets and teachers (1 John 4:1-6).
Let me give those who believe this lie that somehow the Lord has changed and has ceased from doing what He has promised to do by keeping us from serving dumb idols, by simply taking you to New Testament accounts.
Revelatory Gifts (Insight and Revelation)
• Word of Wisdom: Acts 15:13–21 records the application of supernatural wisdom to resolve the complex cultural and theological crisis at the Jerusalem Council regarding Gentile believers.
• Word of Knowledge: Acts 5:1–11 describes Peter’s supernatural knowledge about Ananias and Sapphira secretly holding back money from the land sale.
• Discerning of Spirits: Acts 16:16–18 shows Paul identifying and casting out a python spirit of divination from a slave girl in Philippi.
Power Gifts (Supernatural Action)
• Gift of Faith: Acts 27:21–25 shows Paul displaying extraordinary, confident faith during a violent shipwreck storm, assuring everyone aboard that no one will be lost.
• Gifts of Healing: Acts 3:1–8 records Peter and John healing a man lame from birth at the temple gate called Beautiful.
• Working of Miracles: Acts 13:8–12 shows Elymas the sorcerer being struck blind instantly by the power of God through Paul.
Vocal/Utterance Gifts (Spoken Edification)
• Prophecy: Acts 11:27–28 records a prophet named Agabus standing up and predicting a severe worldwide famine during the reign of Claudius.
• Speaking in Tongues: Acts 2:4 records the disciples speaking in unlearned foreign languages on the Day of Pentecost as the Spirit gave them utterance.
• Interpretation of Tongues: While 1 Corinthians 14 regulates its corporate use, 1 Corinthians 14:27–28 outlines the operational principle where spoken tongues are publicly interpreted for church edification.
In conclusion: The importance of the giftings I cannot overemphasize, for it causes one to find their faith in the Lord and not men (dumb idols). Read Mark 16:20;1 Corinthians 2:5, 4:20; 1 Thessalonians 1:5. On my part, if He were not who He says He is, how then could anyone serve Him?
“Let God be true, but every man a liar…”-Romans 3:4
