Welcome to the first episode of my new series on why the gifts of the Holy Spirit are still available—and essential—for believers today. In this teaching, I share the backstory of how I wrote my book Holy Fire in response to a well-known cessationist work entitled Strange Fire. Cessationism is the belief that supernatural gifts like prophecy, healing, and speaking in tongues ceased with the close of the apostolic age. I explain why I believe this view is not only biblically unfounded, but also spiritually dangerous, as it quenches the very work of the Holy Spirit in the church.
Throughout this episode, you’ll learn about the “silent divorce” between Word and Spirit—how many churches seem to be either all about solid biblical teaching (Word) or all about the supernatural gifts (Spirit). I argue that God’s intention is for us to be both grounded in Scripture and open to the Spirit’s power. You’ll also hear about my personal journey: though I’ve been shaped by deep theological traditions (often labeled “Reformed”), I’ve also been impacted by undeniable moves of the Holy Spirit in my own life and ministry. I share how I’ve encountered both the beautiful genuine fire from God and the unfortunate counterfeit or “strange fire,” reminding us that whenever God moves powerfully, the enemy does his best to produce a confusing imitation.
Over the next several weeks, we will dive into specific spiritual gifts, the role of tongues, biblical support for continuationism, and the balance between sound doctrine and Spirit-empowered living. If you hunger for more of God’s power, but you also long for biblical fidelity, I invite you to stay tuned. I pray this series encourages you to embrace all that the Holy Spirit wants to pour out in your life—safely within the bounds of God’s Word. Please remember to like, share, and subscribe so you don’t miss an episode. Let’s learn together how to walk in the fullness of both Word and Spirit!