Met a friend at the gym the other day. We’d previously had several encouraging discussions about seeing more of the power of God brought forth from people who wear the name ‘Christian.’

The subject again arose. I was taken aback (that’s a weird expression, but I’m gonna go with it) when he asserted this statement: “The absolute promises Jesus made to His disciples, such as, ‘you may ask the Father whatever you will in My Name, and it will be done for you,’ was made specifically to them and not to Christians, in general.”

I became animated and intense as I presented Bible verses and relevant points to dissuade him from his position. No matter. He stood fast, and dug in. I realized I was talking to a friend, a respectable man with a genuine heart to know God. I turned the flames down to a pilot light. I simply asked if we could meet for breakfast to talk further about this matter.

I do get the argument. It’s generally something like this, “The Gospel was just getting off the ground. Jesus appointed 12 men to make a big splash. Such power was necessary for a time, but that time has passed. We now have the Bible - God’s written word - to council and instruct in all situations. God still does miracles occasionally. Men don’t. But it is certainly not up to ordinary followers of Christ to demand that God do this or that, just because they ask Him. He has reasons for everything. He can use sickness as well as healing to accomplish His purposes.”

One ‘proof’ my friend cited to bolster his conviction was that there are many hundreds of thousands of Christians in the world who have prayed for healing, unsuccessfully. If what was promised the twelve disciples was intended for us, why would our experience be so different?

Such a viewpoint is wide spread among sincere church-going men and women in our culture, and throughout the world. The doctrine of Cessationism springs from infighting among the Catholics and Protestants dating back to 400 AD. But even without knowing the origins and details of the ancient argument, it is a belief that is easy for contemporary believers to swallow. Why?

Many of us have personally prayed for loved ones to no effect. We’ve watched the clergy pray for others with no effect. Once in a while we hear of someone, somewhere, who received a miracle. But that has not been a common scene in our experience. We read of miracles, signs and wonders on virtually ‘every page’ of the Bible - particularly in the Gospels and Acts. How does one make sense of this?

They make a rational conclusion: It was for them, but not for us. God is still good and wise. The greatest miracles are to forgive our sins and save us to eternal salvation. Beyond that, we must trust Him to always do what’s best for us.

I get it. But do you notice anything missing in this forgiving sins and saving souls to Heaven? No one can see it.

Isn’t is odd that the Gospel we believe and preach features miracles no one can see, and dismisses the signs that Jesus emphatically declared would accompany those who believe in Him? To embrace this ideology, we must necessarily strip the new creation in Christ of its power.

To my friend, I say this: Even the 12 disciples (and the 70) who went out and did miraculous works at Jesus' command, were not ready to preach the good news of the Kingdom of God in His absence. Jesus told them to wait until they received the Promise of the Father. They would receive the Holy Spirit - the dunamis (the root of our English word ‘dynamite’) power to be able to appropriately bear witness to Him.

Tell me. Why, in the infinite wisdom of God, would Jesus forbid the men He trained from speaking and acting for Him until they received this PROMISE? And why give men this same miraculous power by which Jesus performed mighty works, only to present a Gospel of words without deeds? Without this they were not equipped. With this Promise they would do miracles, signs and wonders in Jesus’ name - they would resemble their Master.

Notice that this power of the Spirit was given to the 120 men and women in the upper room AFTER Jesus’ resurrection. All the believers were at ‘zero’ (regarding readiness to proclaim Christ) until the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. Why does this matter? Because every one got the same thing. And it was given after Jesus was seated at the right hand of God. The absolute promises of Jesus to the 12 disciples at their last physical meeting only became realities when the Holy Spirit was given in power to all who believe.

Much more to say on this subject. Open to your thoughts and comments.