10250 North Freeway @ West Road
Houston, Texas 77037
Tel: (281) 447-8484
10250 North Freeway @ West
Road
Houston, Texas 77037
Tel: (281) 447-8484
What
We Believe and Why
Written by Dr.
Lester Hutson
Copyright
- Lester Hutson - 1986
This material is copyrighted and may not be copied or reproduced
without the express written permission of Dr. Lester Hutson.
CHAPTER THIRTY
THE APOSTOLIC MINISTRY WAS LIMITED TO THE APOSTLES AND THOSE TO WHOM THEY ADMINISTERED THE GIFTS
I. Though many exercised the gifts of the Spirit, not one person received by the Holy Spirit the ability to exercise such gifts apart from the ministry of an Apostle, who alone could administer the Spirit:
A. Remember that earlier we pointed out that many, other than apostles, worked mighty signs, wonders, and miracles: exercising the gifts of the Spirit:
1. Acts 6:8 "And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.
2. Philip performed such powers. Acts 8:5-7 says the people of Samaria, "hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed."
3. When the Apostles arrived (Peter and John, Acts 8:14), "then laid they their hands on them (the Samaritan believers,Acts 8:14), and they received the Holy Ghost." Acts 8:17. (The receiving of the Holy Ghost here refers not to the person, but to the "power" of the Holy Ghost. Had not they have already received the person they'd have had to have been numbered as "None of His." Rom. 8:9 I.E. "None of God's").
4. At Cornelius' house, "The Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God." Acts 10:44-46. Later Peter told the other Apostles of this event saying, "For as much then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us. ." Acts 11:17. Peter mentions this again in Acts 15:8
5. The men who had received John's baptism without being converted, upon conversion and baptism received the Holy Ghost, "And they spake with tongues, and prophecied". Acts 19:6.
6. There can be no doubt from considering I Cor. 12-14 that many, if not all of the Corinthian men possessed one or more of the gifts of the Spirit.
7. The Galatians exercised gifts. Gal. 3:5.
8. To say that only the Apostles exercised spiritual gifts would be foolish and untrue, for these examples are amply sufficient to show that many, who were not apostles, exercised spiritual gifts.
B. The thing we wish you to note is that all of those who were not Apostles, yet who exercised spiritual gifts, received their power to do so from an Apostle or group of Apostles; never apart from an Apostle's personal ministry:
1. Stephen and Philip both had the Apostles lay "their hands on them, " Acts 6:6.
2. The Samaritans received their power when Peter and John (Apostles) "laid they their hands on them." Acts 8:17.
3. Peter was the Apostle by which the people at Cornelius' house received the gifts of the Spirit. Acts 15:7.
4. The believers of Acts 19:5 received their power only when Paul (an Apostle) "had laid his hands upon them." Acts 1 9:6.
5. Paul personally ministered in Corinth (Acts 18:1), and administered the Spirit to the Galatians. Gal. 3:5.
6. You will not find one single case where any one person or group of persons ever exercised spiritual gifts, wrought signs, wonders, or miracles apart from the ministry of an Apostle or group of Apostles!
II. The ministry of imparting the gifts of the Spirit was exclusively that of the Apostles:
A. Though many exercised spiritual gifts and powers, there is not one case where anyone, other than an Apostle, ever imparted such gifts or powers to another person.
B. Instead the Scriptures show that the ministry of imparting spiritual gifts was that of the Apostles; not those to whom they imparted such gifts:
1. Paul spoke of himself to the Galatians as, "He... that ministereth to you the Spirit. . . " Gal. 3:5.
2. Knowing that he had the power to impart the spiritual gifts, Paul wrote to the Romans, "For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift. . . " Rom. 1:11. If these believers could have had the gifts of the Spirit apart from the ministry of an Apostle or by merely believing (which they'd already done, Rom. 1:7, one cannot help wondering why they didn't already have the gifts, and why Paul needed to "see" them in order for them to have the gifts.
3. The Apostles laid their hands on believers and in so doing conveyed the gifts of the Spirit to them. (Acts 6:6; 8:17; 19:6). But, let it be known that none except the Apostles ever laid hands on anyone else and in so doing imparted to him a spiritual gift.
4. When it came to the imparting of spiritual gifts, Simon the sorceror was quick to realize, what hoards of gullible people today don't realize, that those gifts were imparted "Through laying on the Apostles hands. . ." Acts 8:18.
C. When someone other than an apostle wanted the exclusive Apostolic power to impart the gifts, he was quickly told that he had no part in that ministry. Acts 8:13-21:
1. Simon the sorceror wanted that power. Acts 8:18-19 says of him, "And when Simon saw that through laying on of the Apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost." This context and wording is so very clear that no one could fail to see that what Simon wanted was power to impart these gifts as the Apostles could.
2. Note well that Simon saw that only the Apostles had that power to impart the gifts to others:
a. Philip had been in Samaria for some time exercising the gifts of the Spirit, doing miracles before them (Acts 8:6-7). But, he had not imparted his power to a single person.
b. It was only when the Apostles came that the power was imparted, and that only by the Apostles. Acts 8:14-18.
3. To Simon who wanted the power to impart the gifts of the Spirit, the Apostles answered, "Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God." Acts 8:21:
a. "This mattter" referred to was that in which only an Apostle could take "part."
b. Acts 1:25-26 establishes this point by recording where Matthias was ordained to, "Take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell. And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles." By his ordination, Matthias received exactly what Simon asked for, but could not have, because what he asked for was a "matter" in which only Apostles had part.
4. Simon, nor Philip, nor Stephen, nor any other man save only the Apostles had "part" in the "matter" or business of administering or imparting spiritual gifts.
5. Furthermore, those who claim to have part in such matters today fall into the same condemnation of Simon; and it must be said of them as of him, "Thy heart is not right in the sight of God." Acts 8:21.
III. Based upon these foregoing Bible findings, it is easy for us to draw valid conclusions:
A. Since only the Apostles had the power to administer spiritual gifts; and no one ever exercised such gifts apart from the ministry of an Apostle; obviously when the Apostles died, no more gifts were imparted. Then, when those who received their powers from the Apostles died. no one has thereafter been able to perform apostolic powers.
B. This being true, there is no one today able to exercise a gift of the Spirit or Apostolic power.
C. The understanding of this truth makes it clear that all who claim to have charismatic or Apostolic powers are frauds, imposters and counterfeits.
"It Does Make a Difference What You Believe"