'Miracles happen':

jamesalbright • 11 minutes ago − One of the major false teachings found in many churches is that the heavenly gifts have ceased. They claim that the gifts ceased after the Bible was written. However, I would like to point out that Jesus is not the author of confusion and would not tell one part of His church that the heavenly gifts would be present until He returns and then tell another part of the same church that the heavenly gifts have ceased before His return. In Mat 10:8 after Jesus commanded His disciples to heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons, He told them in Mat 10:23 that they would not finish going through the cities of Israel until He returns. Mat 10:8 states “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give. 9 “Do not acquire gold, or silver, or copper for your money belts, Matt. 10:23 states “But whenever they persecute you in one city, flee to the next; for truly I say to you, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel until the Son of Man comes. The claim that the gifts have ceased contradicts Acts 2:17-18, which tells us that in the last days, which everyone knows we are presently in, Jesus will pour out His Spirit on all mankind, including on His bondservants, the believers, and they will prophesy, see visions and dream dreams. Acts 2:17-18 states ‘AND IT SHALL BE IN THE LAST DAYS,’ God says, ‘THAT I WILL POUR FORTH OF MY SPIRIT UPON ALL MANKIND; AND YOUR SONS AND YOUR DAUGHTERS SHALL PROPHESY, AND YOUR YOUNG MEN SHALL SEE VISIONS, AND YOUR OLD MEN SHALL DREAM DREAMS; 18 EVEN UPON MY BONDSLAVES, BOTH MEN AND WOMEN, I WILL IN THOSE DAYS POUR FORTH OF MY SPIRIT And they shall prophesy. One of the early mistakes that those who say that the heavenly gifts have ceased made is that they claimed that the perfect, found in 1Cor 13:9-10 occurred when Jesus became flesh. However, when they realized that this caused a problem because the heavenly gifts that Jesus imparted to the disciples continued to be manifested through them; as well as through Paul, whom they greatly admire, after Jesus ascended to heaven; they changed their story and began telling everyone that the gifts ceased after the Bible was written and that tongues, visions and prophecies that occur today add to the Bible and are from the Devil. However, these explanations contradict 1Cor 13:12, which explains that the perfect found in 1Cor 13:10 is when will be face to face with Jesus and know in full, which means that the heavenly gifts will not cease until Jesus returns. 1 Cor 13:9-12 state For we know in part, and we prophesy in part; {10} but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away. {11} When I was a child, I used to speak as a child, think as a child, reason as a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things. {12} For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I shall know fully just as I also have been fully known. Eph 4:7-8 further reveals their error when it explains that after Jesus ascended to heaven He gave heavenly gifts to men. Eph 4:7-8 states But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift. {8} Therefore it says, "WHEN HE ASCENDED ON HIGH, HE LED CAPTIVE A HOST OF CAPTIVES, AND HE GAVE GIFTS TO MEN." Since the end of the age has not yet come and the gospel of salvation is still available, common sense tells you that there still is a need for Jesus to demonstrate that He has the power to forgive sins, which He stated was His purpose for healing the paralytic in Mark 2:9-10. Mark 2:9-10 states “Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven’; or to say, ‘Get up, and pick up your pallet and walk’? 10 “But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—He *said to the paralytic, 11 “I say to you, get up, pick up your pallet and go home.” Another reason that this teaching has to be corrected is so that God’s people accept the heavenly gifts that will be manifested through the two witnesses who will prophesy and do many signs and wonders, for 1260 days after the Antichrist captures Jerusalem. Rev 11:3-6 states “And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for twelve hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.” 4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. 5 And if anyone wants to harm them, fire flows out of their mouth and devours their enemies; so if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this way. 6 These have the power to shut up the sky, so that rain will not fall during the days of their prophesying; and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood, and to strike the earth with every plague, as often as they desire. If the scriptures above do not turn those believers that this concerns away from the false teaching that the gifts have ceased, Mat 12:24-33 should, because they explain that when a person calls the Holy Spirit Satan, which they do when they talk about those that have the gift of healing, this is blaspheming the Holy Spirit, which is not forgiven in this age or in the age to come. Matthew 12:24-33 states "But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, "This man casts out demons only by Beelzebul the ruler of the demons. "25 And knowing their thoughts He said to them, "Any kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and any city or house divided against itself shall not stand. 26 "And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then shall his kingdom stand? 27 "And if I by Beelzebul cast out demons, by whom do your sons cast them out? Consequently they shall be your judges. 28 "But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. 29 "Or how can anyone enter the strong man's house and carry off his property, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house. 30 "He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me scatters. 31 "Therefore I say to you, any sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven men, but blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven. 32 "And whoever shall speak a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him; but whoever shall speak against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, either in this age, or in the age to come. 33 "Either make the tree good, and its fruit good; or make the tree bad, and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit." 1Cor 12:4-11 provides a list of the heavenly gifts. 1Cor. 12:4-11 states Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. 6 There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. 7 But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8 For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills. As you can see from the scriptures the heavenly gifts will not cease until we are face to face with Jesus, which takes place when He returns.