Something to learn

 

Acts 19:1-10

Cessation is a Christian doctrine. It says the spiritual gifts of the apostles ceased after their work. That is, prophecy, healing and speaking in tongues did not continue after the apostolic age. People wonder why we don't often see the miracles and signs today that we read about in Acts. One answer is cessation. Now, if you believe the gifts are still available to the church today, you lean more toward continuationism. The gifts continue. In Wesleyan terms, cessation and continuationism are doctrines of a "less essential nature." They're not anything we should let our disagreements divide us over. In today's text from Acts 19, we might see a way we can harmonize both ideas, albeit incompletely. Paul came across a group of disciples. Someone had baptized them "into John's baptism." In other words, someone told them about the need to repent and recognize God's redemptive act in Jesus. Great! But Paul asked about the Holy Spirit, and this group had not even heard of it. Imagine that for a moment. What would be missing from your experience with God without the Holy Spirit? The apostle baptized the group and they received the Holy Spirit in a demonstrative way. I've baptized many people, but none of them spoke in tongues or began to prophesy afterwards. Does that mean those gifts stopped some time in history? Not according to others who say they have experienced them. What I'll offer to you is a reminder of another gift of the Holy Spirit we're all sure has not stopped. The group of disciples had not known of the Holy Spirit. But they learned and they experienced the Spirit after Paul's visit. Likewise, there are things you and I have not even heard of or thought about in our life with God. But the Holy Spirit will teach us. According to Jesus, the Spirit "will teach you everything and remind you of all that I have said to you" (John 14:26). That gift remains always. So, let the church's teachers lead you to see what the Holy Spirit is teaching. Stay blessed...john