you are clothed with power from on high

"Are Signs & Wonders for Today?"
* Acts4:29-31 -- Do we pray this prayer today or not?
* Three Waves of HS Movement (Documented HERE)
- Pentecostal (1900s): Azusa St Revival
- Charismatic (1960s): Prots & Caths
- Signs & Wonders (1980s): Power evangelism
* Charismatic Movement
- Appreciation for: emphasis on worship, witness, awareness of HS
- Concerns: prioritization of certain spiritual gifts over others; non-emphasis on spiritual disciplines
* Non-Charismatic Viewpoint
- Appreciation for: Bible scholarship
- Concerns: too academic; seems afraid of HS, potentially divisive (anti-Charismatic)
* Cessationist View
- Definition: miraculous signs & wonders ended w/ death of apostles
- Purpose of miraculous gifts was to authenticate apostles as trustworthy authors of Scripture {1Cor13:8-12, Acts2:22, Acts5:12a}
- No personal evidence of miraculous gifts
- Unique ministry of apostles in Acts
- 2Cor12:12, Heb2:3b-4
- History of church after apostolic age
- Spiritual abuses by those who practice such gifts -- which doesn't prove right or wrong
* Signs & wonders are for Today
- Continuity between Jesus' ministry and today {John14:12}
- Signs & wonders done by non-apostles {Acts6:5, Acts6:8, Acts8:6} -- Paul, Barnabas, Stephen, Philip
- Gal3:5
- 1Cor13:8-12 says these gifts will end at Christ's return
- Miraculous gifts are listed and regulated in 1Cor12-14
- Joel2:28: pouring out of HS in last days (prophecy, dreams, visions)
* Conclusions
- Honor uniqueness of Jesus, apostles, & early church -- but be open to idea that door is opening again for today