The Gifts of the Holy Spirit still Operates Today (Part 2)

Continuation from my previous post...

Argument 2: Only Jesus’ Apostles operated in the gifts of the Holy Spirit

I often hear people argue that the NT apostles were the only legitimate workers of miracles to prove their witness and therefore gifts of the Holy Spirit stopped when they have all passed on. If gifts of the Holy Spirit were indeed restricted to the Twelve, I would be more inclined to give their argument more weight. However, signs and wonders were not only performed by them in the NT (see examples below).


Jesus Himself sent out people apart from the apostles to work the gifts of the Holy Spirit:

After this the Lord [Jesus] appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go…. “When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is offered to you. Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The Kingdom of God has come near to you.’” (Luke 10:1-9)

The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.” (Luke 10:17)

The Twelve also elected godly people to help serve alongside them (see Acts 6). They could also perform miracles:

Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people.” (Acts 6:8)

When the crowds heard Philip and saw the signs he performed, they all paid close attention to what he said. For with shrieks, impure spirits came out of many, and many who were paralysed or lame were healed. (Acts 8:6-7)

All gifts of the Holy Spirit are supernatural in nature and thus considered as signs, wonders and miracles by themselves. There was a multitude of NT people from all over the place who operated in the gifts of the Holy Spirit:

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. (Acts 2:1-4) 

And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” So Paul asked, “Then what baptism did you receive?” “John’s baptism,” they replied. Paul said, “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. There were about twelve men in all. (Acts 19:1-7)

We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully. (Romans 12:4-8)

Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 1:7-8)

Do not quench the Spirit. Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil. (1 Thessalonians 5:19-22)

Jesus promised that signs will follow those who believe in Him!

[Jesus] said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptised will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on the sick people, and they will get well." (Mark 16:15-18)

Thus, Argument 2 does not hold water!

To be continued...