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