Who Is The Holy Spirit?

In another post, the question came up about the gifts of the Holy Spirit (http://www.christianforumsite.com/t...ich-ones-do-you-have.30984/page-2#post-339800). I did a short study on the Holy Spirit not long ago and posted it on my blog (http://tropicalbound.blogspot.com/2014/05/who-is-holy-spirit.html). I'll paste it here as well:

Who Is The Holy Spirit?

The third person of the Holy Trinity. The man behind the scenes. Always the last in terms of billing, but most certainly not the least. The Holy Spirit is, in some sense, almost forgotten in the average Christian's life. Jesus says that you must ask God for the Holy Spirit to enter your life (Luke 11:13), but who is the Holy Spirit?

The Holy Spirit is a man. Linguistically, terms used to describe God and the Holy Spirit are of a masculine nature. Throughout both the old and new testaments, references to God use masculine pronouns. Since the Holy Spirit is considered God, we can use the same masculine term of 'man' or 'him' as well.
So, the Holy Spirit should be considered a person. Like a typical person, the Holy Spirit is intelligent. He knows the thoughts of man, and he knows the thoughts of God (1 Corinthians 2:11). The Holy Spirit has emotions. He loves us (Romans 15:30), and can be insulted (Hebrews 10:29). The Holy Spirit also has free will. He distributes the gifts of God as he sees fit (1 Corinthians 12:11). The Holy Spirit is able to speak. The Holy Spirit speaks to Philip (Acts 8:29), and also to those who were ministering in the church in Antioch (Acts 13:2)

What can we make of the Holy Spirit's personality? What do we know about him? For one, he will be our guide, not by his own initiative, but by what he hears, and he will disclose to us what is to come (John 16:13). Like God, he is omnipresent. He will never leave our side (Psalm 139:7). The Holy Spirit is inquisitive and leaves nothing to chance. He searches all things, even the depths of God (1 Corinthians 2:10).

What role or purpose does the Holy Spirit serve? God is the creator, Jesus his son is our savior, but what about the Holy Spirit? We see that the Holy Spirit is our helper (John 14:16), who will be with us forever and even dwell within us (1 Corinthians 3:16). He is the whisper you hear when you wonder if you're making the right decision, teaching us the ways of God (John 14:26). He gives us power, courage….the right words…the ability to be proper witnesses to Jesus (Acts 1:8). The Holy Spirit is the one who, through Jesus, has set us free from the law (Romans 8:1). Jesus offered himself without blemish, through the Holy Spirit, to cleanse our conscience before God (Hebrews 9:14).
We have seen that the Holy Spirit is a person, who has characteristics, and serves specific purposes, but how does he accomplish his goals? What does he actually do? He speaks to us and gives us specific instruction (Acts 13:2) at just the right time (Acts 8:29). He is the one who helps us pray. When we cannot collect our thoughts before God, the Holy Spirit, who dwells in us, comes to our aid and speaks to God for us (Romans 8:26). When the Holy Spirit dwells in us, we bear fruit (Galatians 5:22). The fruit we bear includes love, joy, and peace. The Holy Spirit descended on Jesus (Matthew 3:16), to dwell in him and so to dwell in us. Anyone who does not have the Holy Spirit dwelling in them, does not belong to Christ (Romans 8:9).

In your prayers, make sure you ask God to bring his Spirit into your life. Allow him to speak to God on your behalf when the words will not come. Allow him to grant you wisdom and peace. This is his purpose in your life and he will never leave your side. When you hunger and thirst for righteousness, you will be satisfied (Matthew 5:6).
 
Excellent.

The only thing that struck me was this one statement that can be misconstrued: "The Holy Spirit is a man." I am sure you meant to say "masculine", as we all know Holy Spirit is not a man. I would never use the word, "man" when speaking of Him.
 
Excellent.

The only thing that struck me was this one statement that can be misconstrued: "The Holy Spirit is a man." I am sure you meant to say "masculine", as we all know Holy Spirit is not a man. I would never use the word, "man" when speaking of Him.


LOL my dear sister.!!!
I just read the same thing and had my finger on the mouse to click it when I saw your post and was thinking the same thing.

Nobody thinks the Holy Spirit is, was, or will ever be a man, a human being, or at least I hope that is true. Christians teach that the Holy Spirit is a person, but what is a person?

A person is a living, intelligent being, with a mind, feelings, and emotions

But then I read the 2nd paragraph of our blogger friend and see that he clarified his comment...................
"So, the Holy Spirit should be considered a person".
 
LOL my dear sister.!!!
I just read the same thing and had my finger on the mouse to click it when I saw your post and was thinking the same thing.

Nobody thinks the Holy Spirit is, was, or will ever be a man, a human being, or at least I hope that is true. Christians teach that the Holy Spirit is a person, but what is a person?

A person is a living, intelligent being, with a mind, feelings, and emotions

But then I read the 2nd paragraph of our blogger friend and see that he clarified his comment...................
"So, the Holy Spirit should be considered a person".

Amen. A Person, yes!
 
In another post, the question came up about the gifts of the Holy Spirit (http://www.christianforumsite.com/t...ich-ones-do-you-have.30984/page-2#post-339800). I did a short study on the Holy Spirit not long ago and posted it on my blog (http://tropicalbound.blogspot.com/2014/05/who-is-holy-spirit.html). I'll paste it here as well:

Who Is The Holy Spirit?

The third person of the Holy Trinity. The man behind the scenes. Always the last in terms of billing, but most certainly not the least. The Holy Spirit is, in some sense, almost forgotten in the average Christian's life. Jesus says that you must ask God for the Holy Spirit to enter your life (Luke 11:13), but who is the Holy Spirit?

The Holy Spirit is a man. Linguistically, terms used to describe God and the Holy Spirit are of a masculine nature. Throughout both the old and new testaments, references to God use masculine pronouns. Since the Holy Spirit is considered God, we can use the same masculine term of 'man' or 'him' as well.
So, the Holy Spirit should be considered a person. Like a typical person, the Holy Spirit is intelligent. He knows the thoughts of man, and he knows the thoughts of God (1 Corinthians 2:11). The Holy Spirit has emotions. He loves us (Romans 15:30), and can be insulted (Hebrews 10:29). The Holy Spirit also has free will. He distributes the gifts of God as he sees fit (1 Corinthians 12:11). The Holy Spirit is able to speak. The Holy Spirit speaks to Philip (Acts 8:29), and also to those who were ministering in the church in Antioch (Acts 13:2)

What can we make of the Holy Spirit's personality? What do we know about him? For one, he will be our guide, not by his own initiative, but by what he hears, and he will disclose to us what is to come (John 16:13). Like God, he is omnipresent. He will never leave our side (Psalm 139:7). The Holy Spirit is inquisitive and leaves nothing to chance. He searches all things, even the depths of God (1 Corinthians 2:10).

What role or purpose does the Holy Spirit serve? God is the creator, Jesus his son is our savior, but what about the Holy Spirit? We see that the Holy Spirit is our helper (John 14:16), who will be with us forever and even dwell within us (1 Corinthians 3:16). He is the whisper you hear when you wonder if you're making the right decision, teaching us the ways of God (John 14:26). He gives us power, courage….the right words…the ability to be proper witnesses to Jesus (Acts 1:8). The Holy Spirit is the one who, through Jesus, has set us free from the law (Romans 8:1). Jesus offered himself without blemish, through the Holy Spirit, to cleanse our conscience before God (Hebrews 9:14).
We have seen that the Holy Spirit is a person, who has characteristics, and serves specific purposes, but how does he accomplish his goals? What does he actually do? He speaks to us and gives us specific instruction (Acts 13:2) at just the right time (Acts 8:29). He is the one who helps us pray. When we cannot collect our thoughts before God, the Holy Spirit, who dwells in us, comes to our aid and speaks to God for us (Romans 8:26). When the Holy Spirit dwells in us, we bear fruit (Galatians 5:22). The fruit we bear includes love, joy, and peace. The Holy Spirit descended on Jesus (Matthew 3:16), to dwell in him and so to dwell in us. Anyone who does not have the Holy Spirit dwelling in them, does not belong to Christ (Romans 8:9).

In your prayers, make sure you ask God to bring his Spirit into your life. Allow him to speak to God on your behalf when the words will not come. Allow him to grant you wisdom and peace. This is his purpose in your life and he will never leave your side. When you hunger and thirst for righteousness, you will be satisfied (Matthew 5:6).

Good question and good explanation. Because this subject is very controversial and divisive and there be few who can talk about this subject with out anger and arguments soon taking over, I want to be as sensitive and clear as I can possibly be on this.

I have seen over the years when this subject comes up, good people who love the Lord always say that they have gifts of healing, or tongues or prophecy. The more exciting the gift is the closer that person believes that he is to God. He convinces himself that he is closer and more special to God than are other believers.

Yes, I know what you are going to post....NO MAJOR NOT ME! I have never seen such a thing!!!!

I know you haven't, but I HAVE! In my on family I have had this conversation over and over and over.

Go back 2000 years in your mind. Jesus Christ has come and gone. The church, newly established was in a time of transition.
Now, do not accept what I just said. Please go on your computer and google any and all of the great Bible teachers and commentaries and see if that is not the truth.

The New Covenant was seen as a threat to the Jewish leaders, therefore there was persecution for those who had chosen to follow Christ. This new religion, this infant had no Bible, very few leaders, no support from the government and little if any money to support itself. It is in fact to me a miracle that it survived at all. So.....How did it survive???????

POWER!!! Not a force but a might visible power!!!!

This new organization had speakers---Apostles-- BUT how were the followers of Christ going to know the real thing from the charlatans? How did the believers know that the men weren't just making things up???? IF YOU were being persecuted for your belief, wouldn't you want to make sure that what you were risking our life for was valid and accurate????
Of course you would. I know I would.

Now, the Bible tells us in Hebrews 2:2-4...........
"After it was at the first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard , God also bearing witness with them, both by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will".

That means God authenticated His message and the messenger through signs, wonders and miracles. Anyone could have claimed to be a teacher or an apostle in this new church. The believers were very naïve and childlike in their understanding and could be easily misled. To validate His spokeman God sent POWER and accompanying miracles. God not only authenticated His message, but He also authenticated His messengers. These then were the "SIGN GIFTS". The Apostles had those SIGN gifts.

1 Corth. 12:4, 7, 28, 30-31....
"Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.........But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal...
And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues............
Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?
31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way."

The ministry gifts listed in Romans 12:6-8 were for the members of the body to build up one another.

Romans 12:6-8
"Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;
8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness."

Hold on now. I know some will think different than I do on this and I do not want to make enemies and you are welcome to think as you wish, I only caution you to read and study this subject carefully and do not believe what you have been told until you confirm it with the Scriptures. Right now I can already here some saying.........."Oh no, here goes the old Major again".

TODAY there are no apostles, therefore there are no prophets, tongue talkers and men who work miracles. We have the Bible, the completed Word of God. There is a great need for teachers but not prophets because of the completed Word of God.
To be an Apostle, a man had to have a face to face calling from Jesus Christ. Paul was the last man that happened to.

I encourage anyone who speaks in tongues to pray about and evaluate carefully their motivation for doing so. BE HONEST!!!
Is it for the glory of God or is it because of peer pressure from a group???
Do you feel like you would be less of a Christian than others if you didn't???
The Bible is very, very clear......Pursue LOVE not tongues!

I believe maturity has been achieved in the church because of the completeness of the Word of God available to us so that Sign gifts are no longer need. Nothing needs to be validated and the Word of God can stand on its own. If a speaker is saying something that is not in the Word of God he is not true messenger of God.

I want to gentle and loving yet still be able to tell you what I believe the Scriptures teach. I know a lot do not agree with me on this and I can do nothing but give you the Scriptures as my proof. I have studied this a long time my friends and I believe the practice of prophecy, words of knowledge and tongues were associated with the infant 1st church.
 
All the gifts are all in operation today and all made available to those who would receive them, and that includes apostle, prophet and tongues. All the gifts are for the use of and the edification of what? The Church! As long as we have the Church, we will have the functioning gifts.

Those who hold to cessationism eschew the gifts, and therefore they will not be available to receive what God so greatly desires to give them.

Great amounts of time devoted to study does not conclude in the belief of the cessation of the gifts. Error does.
 
Ok. Perhaps I should have written that the Holy Spirit is "Manly" and not a man. My bad.

Of course, if I *had* said manly, then there would have been very few replies..... So, it's a trade-off.... :)
 
All the gifts are all in operation today and all made available to those who would receive them, and that includes apostle, prophet and tongues. All the gifts are for the use of and the edification of what? The Church! As long as we have the Church, we will have the functioning gifts.

Those who hold to cessationism eschew the gifts, and therefore they will not be available to receive what God so greatly desires to give them.

Great amounts of time devoted to study does not conclude in the belief of the cessation of the gifts. Error does.

To contend that the New Testament gifts could occur today or that no verse rules out such a possibility is not enough; it must also be shown that the modern charismatic "gifts" are the same as in the early first church. The proponents of the charismatic movement have been unsuccessful in proving either the first (the possibility of the gifts today) or the second (that these are the same phenomena).

Are all phenomena automatically from the Holy Spirit simply because someone makes such an assertion that they are, unless a verse can be found that directly states they are not? It is not enough merely to assert that charismatic phenomena are New Testament phenomena. There must be evidence that they are the same. That is simply just plain common sense!
 
To contend that the New Testament gifts could occur today or that no verse rules out such a possibility is not enough; it must also be shown that the modern charismatic "gifts" are the same as in the early first church. The proponents of the charismatic movement have been unsuccessful in proving either the first (the possibility of the gifts today) or the second (that these are the same phenomena).

Are all phenomena automatically from the Holy Spirit simply because someone makes such an assertion that they are, unless a verse can be found that directly states they are not? It is not enough merely to assert that charismatic phenomena are New Testament phenomena. There must be evidence that they are the same. That is simply just plain common sense!
Let's beat this topic to death once again!!

Now Major.. You minister so many people.. Isn't that a gift? :)

I do believe spiritual gifts are valid today.. but it is very much different from signs and wonders performed by Jesus and Apostles.. I will not deny today we don't see the same kind of signs and wonders.. But God still uses healing as a sign for converting people.. We see signs and wonders performed every time God was establishing something on this earth.. Could God have brought Israel out without 10 plagues? He certainly could have! His name had to be glorified before revealing mosaic law.. Same way the signs and wonders performed by Jesus and Apostles pointed to Jesus and His gospel.. No wonder they are called signs! As signs, they had to point to something..

Even today, God by His grace and mercy, gives spiritual gifts for different people.. I think the problem comes as we segregate supernatural and natural gifts.. I try not look to segregate them in that fashion.. Every gift is for edification of Church.. It could be healing or someone gifted with gift of preaching.. They all are for Glory of God and building up the Church.. Bringing more souls to heaven.. I don't find Biblical support to say God stopped supernatural gifts and only natural gifts continue to exist..
 
Let's beat this topic to death once again!!

Now Major.. You minister so many people.. Isn't that a gift? :)

I do believe spiritual gifts are valid today.. but it is very much different from signs and wonders performed by Jesus and Apostles.. I will not deny today we don't see the same kind of signs and wonders.. But God still uses healing as a sign for converting people.. We see signs and wonders performed every time God was establishing something on this earth.. Could God have brought Israel out without 10 plagues? He certainly could have! His name had to be glorified before revealing mosaic law.. Same way the signs and wonders performed by Jesus and Apostles pointed to Jesus and His gospel.. No wonder they are called signs! As signs, they had to point to something..

Even today, God by His grace and mercy, gives spiritual gifts for different people.. I think the problem comes as we segregate supernatural and natural gifts.. I try not look to segregate them in that fashion.. Every gift is for edification of Church.. It could be healing or someone gifted with gift of preaching.. They all are for Glory of God and building up the Church.. Bringing more souls to heaven.. I don't find Biblical support to say God stopped supernatural gifts and only natural gifts continue to exist..

They really did! You are correct my brother. They pointed to the authenticity of the Apostles and their message. Remember, there was no New Test. that would validate their teaching so the gifts were "Sign" gifts given to the eleven, not us today.

Matthew 28:16......
"Then the ELEVEN disciples went away in to Galilee into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them.
And when THEY saw Him they worshipped Him but some doubted.
And Jesus came and spake to THEM saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth".

Mark 16:14-17
"Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.
15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues"

Then consider Hebrews 2:1-4
"Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.
2 For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward;
3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;
4 God also bearing THEM witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?
 
To contend that the New Testament gifts could occur today or that no verse rules out such a possibility is not enough; it must also be shown that the modern charismatic "gifts" are the same as in the early first church. The proponents of the charismatic movement have been unsuccessful in proving either the first (the possibility of the gifts today) or the second (that these are the same phenomena).

Are all phenomena automatically from the Holy Spirit simply because someone makes such an assertion that they are, unless a verse can be found that directly states they are not? It is not enough merely to assert that charismatic phenomena are New Testament phenomena. There must be evidence that they are the same. That is simply just plain common sense!

I don't contend. I know all the gifts are available and being used by the Body of Christ today, and will continue until Jesus--the perfect---comes again.

The proof is in the witness of them in operation. What is common sense is to ask for the baptism of the the Holy Spirit, then when one receives Him and His anointing, then---never doubt.
 
I don't contend. I know all the gifts are available and being used by the Body of Christ today, and will continue until Jesus--the perfect---comes again.

The proof is in the witness of them in operation. What is common sense is to ask for the baptism of the the Holy Spirit, then when one receives Him and His anointing, then---never doubt.

Contend was not a word used to indicate fighting, or arguing. I was only referring to the conversation at hand.
 
They really did! You are correct my brother. They pointed to the authenticity of the Apostles and their message. Remember, there was no New Test. that would validate their teaching so the gifts were "Sign" gifts given to the eleven, not us today.

Matthew 28:16......
"Then the ELEVEN disciples went away in to Galilee into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them.
And when THEY saw Him they worshipped Him but some doubted.
And Jesus came and spake to THEM saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth".

Mark 16:14-17
"Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.
15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues"

Then consider Hebrews 2:1-4
"Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.
2 For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward;
3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;
4 God also bearing THEM witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?

But the signs and wonders were not limited to the Apostles only.. I would look at signs and wonders being needed to authenticate the Gospel itself rather than authenticity of Apostles alone..

After Pentecost, Holy Spirit was no longer limited to select few.. When Paul wrote to Corinth Church about prophesy, tongues and the order to be maintained, he is not condemning about false prophesy.. He is only talking about order in Church.. Which would clearly mean, Corinth church did exercise gifts of the spirit.. They did not know how to use it in order, like most of the churches today! :)

This is another clear indication that the gifts would serve 2 purpose.. If it was only for the purpose of validating Gospel, then there would have been no need to pour out the Spirit on all flesh.. Holy Spirit today moves in us to build the body of Christ.. Gifts are for edification as well..

I think there is no true cessasionist! Preaching, teaching, music, etc is certainly a gift from God! You are one living testimony Major :) That spiritual gifts do exist today! The debate is always on what gifts have ceased to exist.. I do not find scriptural evidence to say that God has taken off certain gifts alone from His church..

Luke 10:17
When the seventy-two disciples returned, they joyfully reported to him, “Lord, even the demons obey us when we use your name!”

Acts 6:8
And Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people.

Acts 8:6
Philip went down to the city of Samaria and began proclaiming Christ to them. The crowds with one accord were giving attention to what was said by Philip, as they heard and saw the signs which he was performing.
 
To contend that the New Testament gifts could occur today or that no verse rules out such a possibility is not enough; it must also be shown that the modern charismatic "gifts" are the same as in the early first church. The proponents of the charismatic movement have been unsuccessful in proving either the first (the possibility of the gifts today) or the second (that these are the same phenomena).

Are all phenomena automatically from the Holy Spirit simply because someone makes such an assertion that they are, unless a verse can be found that directly states they are not? It is not enough merely to assert that charismatic phenomena are New Testament phenomena. There must be evidence that they are the same. That is simply just plain common sense!
This to an extent I agree.. that we are not going to see activity same way as what was happening at the time of early Church.. I don't think we are going to see people brought back to life from death.. I would run away if someone claims that they can do that..
 
There is only one reason why we do not see very much of the same working of wonders that were seen in the early days of the Church, although they do happen still!

UNBELIEF.
 
I don't contend. I know all the gifts are available and being used by the Body of Christ today, and will continue until Jesus--the perfect---comes again.

The proof is in the witness of them in operation. What is common sense is to ask for the baptism of the the Holy Spirit, then when one receives Him and His anointing, then---never doubt.
There is only one reason why we do not see very much of the same working of wonders that were seen in the early days of the Church, although they do happen still!

UNBELIEF.

I am curious. Why do you think that approx. 1700 years passed with no record anywhere of the phenomenon we are talking about taking place??? HAving looked all over the net, it seems that there is a great absence of information of the working of the Holy Spirit , tongues, faith healings etc. until 1900???

Wouldn't these events continue all through the church age.
 
I am curious. Why do you think that approx. 1700 years passed with no record anywhere of the phenomenon we are talking about taking place??? HAving looked all over the net, it seems that there is a great absence of information of the working of the Holy Spirit , tongues, faith healings etc. until 1900???

Wouldn't these events continue all through the church age.

You may not be looking in the right places. There are records!

The world did go through the Dark Ages, but Holy Spirit burst that wide open. People are raised from the dead and healed every day. Tongues is spoken everywhere! The internet is not where it's happening.
 
You may not be looking in the right places. There are records!

The world did go through the Dark Ages, but Holy Spirit burst that wide open. People are raised from the dead and healed every day. Tongues is spoken everywhere! The internet is not where it's happening.

I also have extensive books in my office and I must tell you that I can not find a record of such things.

When we read the history of what happened it becomes clear that when the Bible was printed by Gutenburg. I believe that was in the early 1600's, IT opened the minds of men and the darkness was removed when the Bible was distributed so that ALL men could read the Word of God, not just a select few.

One of the Biblical requirements for one to be rightly regarded as an apostle were those following Jesus from the time of John’s baptism. They also were to have seen the risen Lord be witnesses of his resurrection.

When the closed group of twelve became eleven, they sought another to take Judas' office: Acts 1:21-22 “Therefore, of these men who have accompanied us all the time the Lord Jesus went in and among us beginning from the baptism of John to that day he was taken up from us One of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection.' “

A question often posed is, 'Can others do miracles like the apostles, since Mark 16:17-18 describes “and these signs will follow those who believe in my name they will cast out demons they will speak in other tongues and… will heal the sick.” (' Note: these particular verses are not found in the majority of the manuscripts, granted that they are...)

The answer is found in a careful examination of the text. Where we find in the Mark 16:14 narrative that Jesus is speaking to the 11 and commissions them to preach the Gospel first then baptizing the believers. So we find that the Lord is in fact speaking directly to the apostles just before he is taken up into Heaven (verse 19). Afterward, the apostles went out and preached, and the Lord was working with them confirming His Word through accompanying signs.

I know how powerful the need is to be able to do what the apostles did, but there is no evidence that all believers can do what the apostles did. What did occur is the word was first preached and the signs and wonders followed to validate the new leadership for the church. In much the same way Jesus’ miracles were to validate his person and message. Please think and consider this............
" If these signs and wonders were to follow all who believe how could one tell who the apostles were?" There would be no distinction in leadership.

The very reason for the signs and miracles were to appoint the apostles as a governing leadership over Gods new entity the Church. If we look at the book of Acts who was it that took up a serpent? Paul an apostle. Who laid hands on the sick and they recovered? The apostles. This was never a normal occurrence for everyone who was a Christian. When Dorcas died the believers did not raise her but sent for Peter to raise her from the dead (9:36-42). This also shows that Mk.16:17 is not a promise that was being exercised to all believers.

“ Truly the signs of an apostle were accomplished among you with all perseverance, in signs and wonders and mighty deeds.”(2 Cor. 12:12) The sign of an apostle was the miracles done, this distinguished them from the other believers.
 
I also have extensive books in my office and I must tell you that I can not find a record of such things.

When we read the history of what happened it becomes clear that when the Bible was printed by Gutenburg. I believe that was in the early 1600's, IT opened the minds of men and the darkness was removed when the Bible was distributed so that ALL men could read the Word of God, not just a select few.

One of the Biblical requirements for one to be rightly regarded as an apostle were those following Jesus from the time of John’s baptism. They also were to have seen the risen Lord be witnesses of his resurrection.

When the closed group of twelve became eleven, they sought another to take Judas' office: Acts 1:21-22 “Therefore, of these men who have accompanied us all the time the Lord Jesus went in and among us beginning from the baptism of John to that day he was taken up from us One of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection.' “

A question often posed is, 'Can others do miracles like the apostles, since Mark 16:17-18 describes “and these signs will follow those who believe in my name they will cast out demons they will speak in other tongues and… will heal the sick.” (' Note: these particular verses are not found in the majority of the manuscripts, granted that they are...)

The answer is found in a careful examination of the text. Where we find in the Mark 16:14 narrative that Jesus is speaking to the 11 and commissions them to preach the Gospel first then baptizing the believers. So we find that the Lord is in fact speaking directly to the apostles just before he is taken up into Heaven (verse 19). Afterward, the apostles went out and preached, and the Lord was working with them confirming His Word through accompanying signs.

I know how powerful the need is to be able to do what the apostles did, but there is no evidence that all believers can do what the apostles did. What did occur is the word was first preached and the signs and wonders followed to validate the new leadership for the church. In much the same way Jesus’ miracles were to validate his person and message. Please think and consider this............
" If these signs and wonders were to follow all who believe how could one tell who the apostles were?" There would be no distinction in leadership.

The very reason for the signs and miracles were to appoint the apostles as a governing leadership over Gods new entity the Church. If we look at the book of Acts who was it that took up a serpent? Paul an apostle. Who laid hands on the sick and they recovered? The apostles. This was never a normal occurrence for everyone who was a Christian. When Dorcas died the believers did not raise her but sent for Peter to raise her from the dead (9:36-42). This also shows that Mk.16:17 is not a promise that was being exercised to all believers.

“ Truly the signs of an apostle were accomplished among you with all perseverance, in signs and wonders and mighty deeds.”(2 Cor. 12:12) The sign of an apostle was the miracles done, this distinguished them from the other believers.

You're listening to religious folk.

Mark 16:17-18 describes the BELIEVER--period.
These miraculous signs will accompany those who believe: They will cast out demons in my name, and they will speak in new languages. 18 They will be able to handle snakes with safety, and if they drink anything poisonous, it won’t hurt them. They will be able to place their hands on the sick, and they will be healed.
 
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