Radiant Church

• There were many distractions (wonders and miracles) taking place in Corinth by non-believing exorcists and magicians who were blaspheming Jesus’ name, which inspired people to worship idols
• The Holy Spirit testifies to the divinity, character, and lordship of Christ
• ANY spiritual messenger/doctrine/conversation that doesn’t point us to obedience under Christ leads people astray from the true faith

Cessationists believe most of the spiritual gifts (miraculous) were signs needed to authenticate the Church-establishing foundational work of the Apostles and Prophets (Ephesians 2:20-22) and have ceased since the end of the Apostolic Age (around 100 A.D.) and the canonization of Scripture (~4th Century)

Continuationists [Charismatics or Pentecostals] believe all spiritual gifts are still available to the saints and are in full operation today

• Ongoing need of edifying the Church and evangelizing (missionaries)
• Christ can be magnified through the lives of all empowered believers
• Our unchanging God is the author and giver of these gifts
• The “perfect” has not yet arrived (Second Coming of Christ)
• There should be no new truths/doctrines being laid: all gifts must line up with Scripture and proclaim “Jesus is Lord!” (Galatians 1:8-12)

Operating In These Gifts Example
1) Believe/Ask: Appreciate what tools are available (“uniformed”)
2) Receive: By faith and in obedience, yield (“varieties of service”)
3) Steward: They are temporarily rentalentrusted to us (“as He wills”)
4) Worship: God’s gifts can’t operate apart from Him (“led astray/idols“)