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Spiritual Gifts: God’s Grace To Believers For The Edification Of The Church – Part 4; Why I Am A Cessationist

Romans 12:3-8

You have a gift and the church needs you to use it
Colossians 3:12-17, Ephesians 4:16
Your commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ is directly tied to your involvement in the local church

Four principles related to  the giving of spiritual gifts
Part 1  –  The Attitude of spiritual gifts – Vs. 3
Part 2 –   The Diversity of spiritual gifts – Vs. 4-5
Part 3 –   The Practice of the spiritual gifts – Vs. 6
This week:  Part 4 – Six biblical reasons why the sign gi fts have ceased
1.  The authenticating purpose of miracles is to confirm God’s messengers and their message
.           There were three periods or ‘eras’ of revelation when miracles occurred in biblical history
.           .           Moses and Joshua – The writing of the Pentateuch & Joshua:  Exodus 4:1-5, 39-31; 7:1-3
.           .           Elijah and Elisha – The introduction of the prophets: 1 Kings 17:21-24, 18:36-37
.           .           Christ and the Apostles – The wriiting of the New Testament:  John 5:36, 10, 24-25; Acts 2:22, 43; 5:12
.           Now the age of revelation has closed.  The Bible is complete.
2.  The apparent loss of miraculous abilities
.           .           Epaphroditus – Phillipians 2:25-30   
.           .           Trophimus – 2 Timothy 4:20
.           .          Referred to as past actions – Hebrews 2:3-4
3.  The temporary gift of apostleship – 1 Corinthians 12:28, Ephesians 4:7-8, 11
.           Three requirements to be an apostle were only capable of being filled in the first century
.           .           Eyewitnes to the resurrection of Christ – Acts 1:21
.           .           Directly appointed by Christ – Acts 1:2, 24
.           .           Had to have the ability to perform miracles – Matthew 10:1, 2 Corinthians 12:12