Excerpt from the book Predators in Our Pulpits.

On one hand we have the evangelicals ignoring and openly rejecting the gifts and power of the Holy Spirit, and on the other extreme we have the NAR (New Apostolic Reformation cult) and WOF (Word of Faith cult) movements misusing those gifts and the power of God. So what’s the biblical balance?

“And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.” – Acts 4:31

What is a cessationist? A cessationist is one who believes that the baptism of the Holy Spirit and gifts of the Spirit are now obsolete in our day – that God has changed and no longer functions through the gifts and power of His Holy Spirit. The cessationist is taught of men that the power, gifts, and spiritual blessings of God ended with the original apostles of Jesus and that believers in Jesus today have no need of these blessed divine gifts and the power of God Jesus instructed and sent us with. The cessationist denies the need for the LORD’s gifts and power here in this last hour, directly contrasting the history of the early church and the warning of Jesus that satanic power would be at an all-time high in the final days (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12; Revelation 12:12).

Concerning one cessationist, one author writes:

Pastor John MacArthur teaches the speaking of tongues by believers at Corinth was demonic. – *56. Truth About Speaking in Tongues – John MacArthur 1, T. 7:38-8:27. | Are Tongues Demonic? | John MacArthur Exposed

One writer notes:

“The fact is, John MacArthur’s doctrine of cessationism is not an ‘error’, as in a mistake. He is preaching what he knows is FALSE. He knows exactly what he is doing.”

Because of the deadness in the church, he teaches the believers in Corinth were deceived into feeling God by speaking in tongues. This is why he teaches the work of the Holy Spirit within the Charismatic movement is a counterfeit of Satan.

The night I prayed to be baptized in the Holy Spirit I had never seen anyone speak in tongues. Reaching out for some ecstatic experience was the furthest thing from my mind. I simply wanted more power to be a better witness for God. It’s true—especially in the past decade—admired teachers have deceptively introduced heresies within Pentecostal and Charismatic churches (2 Peter 2:1). This still doesn’t nullify the godly lives of over three hundred million Christians in the world that have been baptized in the Holy Spirit with the physical evidence of speaking in tongues (Acts 1:5; 2:4; 8:17; 10:46; 19:6).

For those who love the Lord and speak in tongues, I give this warning. The assault upon us for using the gift God has given us when we were baptized in the Holy Spirit, is intensifying. Pastors like MacArthur, Stanley, and Jeremiah are slandering the entire Pentecostal movement because of false teachers and heretics like Ken Copeland, Creflo Dollar, Benny Hinn, and Paul Crouch. Jesus warned us of this division within the body that would occur as we draw closer to the great tribulation.

The blood of the cross has already been shed as Jesus “spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it” (Colossians 2:15). Satan must hinder Christ’s people from reading, believing, and experiencing His power to “cast out devils” and be used of God in “the ministry of reconciliation” as His very “ambassadors” (2 Corinthians 5:17-20). The most powerful way the enemy can do this is by having his agents on the inside, posing as representatives of Christ, while robbing Christ of His glory and pilfering His divine power from His body in the earth.

For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. – 2 Corinthians 11:13-15

Of this war against the divine power of the Holy Spirit, Randy Orris writes:

All these years of the Church history, the Enemy has masterminded an infiltration strategy: to have Christians enthusiastically embrace the counterfeit gospel, the false prophets and the sensual substitute … while actually rejecting the genuine Power and Gifts of the Holy Spirit which the Head of the Church gave to us and our children forever: “For the promise is UNTO YOU, and TO YOUR CHILDREN, to your children, and TO ALL THAT ARE AFAR OFF, even as many as the Lord our God shall call” (Acts 2:39).

The following verses are still in effect, and will be until Jesus comes:

And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will POUR OUT MY SPIRIT UPON ALL FLESH; and YOUR SONS AND DAUGHTERS shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions. – Joel 2:28

For THE GIFTS and THE CALLING OF GOD are WITHOUT repentance. – Romans 11:29,

We would not deny the LORD who purchased us—why would we deny the very gifts that He purchased for us … which are to glorify Him, and not us?”

There are many today who erroneously believe we only need God’s written Word and not His power and presence. Scripture contradicts such a notion. “The kingdom of God is not in word, but in power” (1 Corinthians 4:20).

Our LORD Jesus said: “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth“ (John 4:23-24).

Is “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever” (Hebrews 13:8), or did the LORD lie to us in His Word? Has He changed? “For I am the Lord, I change not” (Malachi 3:6).

In order to control things themselves, the cessationist reduces his version of the gospel down to a set or a book of facts. But that very book—the Bible—contradicts that one who would erroneously suppose that the head knowledge of sound doctrine alone is necessary to walk with the LORD. Such a notion is not consistent with the earliest believers who, while biblically intensive and discerning, were also moved upon by the presence and power of God to preach, to love their enemies, to bring healing, to walk in God’s love with the brethren of Christ, to please the LORD, and to see divine miracles (Book of Acts). These who would teach some new program are not continuing “stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine” (Acts 2:42).

New Testament Christianity involves walking with the LORD in the Holy Spirit and His power; not just learning the facts about God (Luke 24:49; Acts 1-2, etc.). “But ye shall receive power, AFTER that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:8).

HOW many people know that you and I have never once had the “problem” of having too much of the presence of the Holy Spirit in our personal lives?

Paul gave us Jesus’ one true Gospel and he stated: “And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power” (1 Corinthians 2:4).

Satan’s goal is to hinder Christ’s sacrifice from being fully effectual and realized in the lives of as many souls as possible. Remember, it is a grave error and extremely dangerous action to take away any part from God’s Word (Revelation 22:18-19). Changing in any way, the original Gospel program that was instituted and carried out by our LORD and His holy apostles, is a deadly undertaking.

Quench not the Spirit. 1 Thessalonians 5:19

The primary passage the cessationist uses in his lame attempt to peddle the evil, Spirit-quenching wares of God’s arch enemy, is the end of 1 Corinthians 13. He grossly reads into and distorts this passage for his own self-serving agenda (2 Peter 3:16). At the end of 1 Corinthians 13, Paul is simply contrasting the eternal nature of love and the temporal nature of the gifts of the Spirit. However, Paul never says anything to indicate the ceasing of those gifts until “that which is perfect is come.” Obviously, this will not be the case until we are actually with Him. “That which is perfect” is not yet come. We are not yet in glory.

Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity. – 1 Corinthians 13:8-13

1 Corinthians 13 is purposely wedged between chapters 12 and 14 to establish that the “greatest” priority in God’s kingdom is “charity.“ He says nothing to remove the functioning of the gifts of the Holy Spirit here and now in this Church age. Yet, those eager to control the minds and lives of men use Paul’s words to dismiss the presence and work of the divine Person of the Holy Ghost. This is an insidious preoccupation, motivated by the enemy of Christ himself and perpetrated by Satan’s wolves to steal the glory and power from the LORD and His blessed people. To say that there is no Holy Ghost baptism or gifts of the Spirit is to call Christ’s apostle Paul a liar, and likewise the Holy Spirit who was inspiring his writings.

Paul introduced the Spirit’s gifts, as well as the proper order and usage of them, in chapters 12 and 14. Just because God says that charity is most important does not give any sinful man the license to try to remove HIS gifts. Attempting to do so is undiluted arrogance! Anyone participating in this should repent at once, cease leaning to his own understanding, and stop removing things from God’s Word (Revelation 22:18-19). Limiting God is a sin (Psalms 78:41). The denial of the work of the divine Person of the Holy Ghost in and among His people is a ploy of Satan to take glory (and control) from the LORD Himself and hand it over to mere sinful men who are venomous, thieving wolves. This is that doctrine and the deeds of the Nicolaitans which Jesus says He hates (Revelation 2:6, 15).

In 1 Corinthians 13, “that which is perfect” is clearly speaking of Heaven. To the cessationist, I would say: If you will read the 1 Corinthians 13 text and stop regurgitating the lies of the wolves you have been deceived by, the LORD will open your eyes. He is calling you to repent, and fear and serve God and not man. His “counsel” is the very “thoughts of his heart” and the very “lamp unto my feet, and light unto my path” (Psalms 33:11; 119:105).

Feigning to love, worship, and desire more of God while rejecting His clear counsel concerning being baptized in the Holy Ghost, is betrayal. Saying that intellectual knowledge of His Word is enough is rebellion. Paul said, “For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power” (1 Corinthians 4:20). Jesus said we must worship Him not only in “truth” but “in spirit” (John 4:23-24). On this very note, Jesus told the false teachers of His day that they went into error for two reasons—they rejected the full-counsel of His Word and they rejected His divine power in their lives. “Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, NOR THE POWER of God” (Matthew 22:29).

To further illustrate this truth, one may wish to reflect upon the lives of Jesus, Paul and other apostles and New Testament saints. Were they just full of head knowledge? Is that all being a follower of Jesus consists of? Was not Christ and His apostles and servants active in casting out devils, healing the sick, laying hands on people, and doing other exploits for Jesus’ glory under the Spirit’s power? Well of course they were. When was the last time you read the book of Acts?

Even a child who reads the New Testament can witness a myriad of Gospel action. Do the Great Commission passages sound like Jesus was sending us forth to simply learn knowledge and theory, or is there a thrusting forth into Gospel work and action with the promise of His divine power being present to bless, heal, deliver, and bring forth the fruit of lives saved and made whole by Him? Let’s review what Jesus said:

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, A l l p ow er is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. – Matthew 28:18-20

Well, is it “the end of the world” yet? No! So, we know that Christ is still working in, through and with His true disciples today who go forth to preach His Gospel and teaching all men His Word.

And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen. – Mark 16:15-20

“Signs” certainly do follow the preaching of His Word and the absence of such power and blessing is more evidence that His original Gospel, in its full-counsel, is not being set forth.

Now, we are not to seek signs. No. We are to seek the Savior and to obey Him fully and diligently as we dispense His truth unchanged from its original form as written in His Word.

Yet, why are these things not happening more often? Why are such signs, deliverances, and blessings seldom or never seen in today’s so-called “evangelical” church world? It’s simple: tradition-loving, Christ-denying modern Pharisees have long ago taken over the helm, stripping Christ, the only “Head” of His true body, of His blessed glory and power (Mark 7:6-10; Colossians 2:18-19).

The answer to the gross lack of divine power is obvious (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-20). Believers know that communicating or preaching the Gospel message or Word of God is most important and yet, it is not our prerogative to diminish anything from the Commission of God (Deuteronomy 4:2; Jeremiah 26:2).

Please allow me to encourage you to dismiss the lies of the cessation beguilers and get deeply into God’s Word for yourself so that you rightly divide the Word of divine truth (2 Timothy 2:15). As you do this, the truth will be manifested in your heart.

Prayer: Blessed and holy Father, I love You. Imbue my life with Thy holy fear. LORD, please clean my heart and life of all unbelief, traditions of men, false notions, erroneous teachings, and all sin. I will trust and walk only in what You have clearly stated in Your Word LORD. Fill me afresh with Your Holy Spirit Father as I now surrender my life afresh to You in repentance and return wholly to You. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Capture Points

• Discuss what a cessationist is and how this is affecting the modern church

Predators in Our Pulpits [book]

Spiritual Warfare | On the Truth Can Make us Free | Neither Give Place to the Devil | Resist the Devil and He will Flee from You

Support | STORE | Podcasts | Christology | Judging Prophecy | A Generation of False Prophets Unleashed [podcast] | Prophetic or Pathetic? | The Holy Spirit | Beware of False Gifts |

“Strange Fire” in the Church World Today

— “STRANGE FIRE” !!! BEWARE of those who call out for and over emphasize the so called “fire of God.” Remember the false / “strange fire” of Aaron’s sons? “And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not. 2 And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD.” Leviticus 10:1-2 Adam Clarke, of this passage, writes: “God intended that every part of his service should be conducted; and that every sacrifice might […]

Are Tongues Demonic? [podcast]

Tongues are not of the devil and did not pass away! Get over yourself! YOU are not in control, sinner. At times we hear well meaning believers (perhaps) saying that devils can give you tongues. hmmmmm My reply to such would be as follows: That could be true and yet…. Jesus and His holy apostles never made such a statement. They DID though diligently testify of the baptism with the Holy Ghost and made sure every believer knew about it and were invited to receive it…. as in Acts 8:14-17 which we will look at in a moment. The Misuse […]

Dreams, Visions, Prophecies, and Supposed Apparitions [podcast]

Remember that Jesus says that His sheep hear His voice (John 10:16). The point of this message is in no way to limit God or foolishly claim He no longer speaks to people in dreams, visions, or the vocal gifts of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:7-10; Hebrews 13:8). Yet, today, most of those claiming to be getting words, visions, dreams, and prophecies, are not grounded in Christ and most of them make it abundantly obvious by their lack of preaching the essential doctrines of the original Gospel such as Christ’s cross, judgment, hell, repentance, the necessity for personal holiness, […]

Prophetic Frauds Galore!

TODAY, the true remnant body of Christ is unleashing the Word of God on the witchcraft, the witches, and the warlocks, who pose as the very ministers of Christ (2 Corinthians 11:11-15). Those who use the word “prophetic” desire to be the oracle, instead of letting God’s written Word be what it is – the final divine authority, the divine oracle and only one needed! Pride. If you don’t hold God’s WRITTEN WORD as the absolute final authority for all matters of the Christian faith, you are the very enemy of Christ (John 8:47; Acts 17:10-11). If you are not […]

Seeking the Presence of the LORD?

Soaking, Witchcraft, and the Manifest Presence of God God wants His people to be full of His Holy Spirit, His bless-ed divine presence and yet, how are we going about seeing this manifest in our lives? YOU can cry out till you’re blue in the face and God will not anoint your filthy heart! A devil might but not the HOLY Spirit of God! Repentance is what God commands of you (Ezekiel 18:30; Hosea 14:1-2; Acts 3:19; 17:30-31, etc.). WHO does God exclusively fill with His presence and blessings? Jesus told us that only those who humbly and obediently seek […]