Most Christians are very much aware of the role the Holy Spirit plays in our salvation. He, by His internal work in human hearts, convicts the sinner of sin and reveals the need of a Savior (Jn 16:7-11, cf. Acts 2:37, 24:24-25, 1 Thess 1:5). He regenerates those who believe i.e. he quickens us spiritually (Jn 3:3-8, Tit 3:5, 1 Pt 1:3, 23, cf. Ezek 36:25-27, Jas 1:18). He cleanses us from the filth of sin (1 Corin 6:11, Tit 3:5, cf. Ezek 36:25, Heb 10:22). He sanctifies us, i.e. makes us holy (1 Corin 6:11, 2 Thess 2:13, 1 Pt 1:2). He baptizes (or immerses) us into the Body of Christ (1 Corin 12:13, cf. Rom 6:3-5, Gal 3:27-28, Eph 4:4-6). He indwells (i.e. resides in) us forever (Jn 14:16-17, Rom 8:9-11, 1 Corin 6:19-20, 2 Tim 1:14). He seals every believer, as a guarantee that we belong to God (Eph 1:13-14, 4:30, 2 Corin 1:21-22, 5:5). He is the earnest of our salvation, i.e. He is the assurance that none of us would be lost until our bodies are redeemed on the last day (Eph 1:13-14, 4:30, cf. Rom 8:11, 23, Philip 1:6). He bears witness (i.e. assures us) that we are God’s children (Rom 8:15-16, Gal 4:6, cf. 1 Jn 4:13). He works in us the character of Christ (Gal 5:22-23, cf. 2 Corin 3:18, Eph 5:9, Col 1:8).
The above-stated functions of the Holy Spirit at salvation are relatively understood by most. However, fewer Christians have come to appreciate the fact that, asides the work of salvation, the Spirit also empowers us to walk in the miraculous power of God; an aspect of His work is equipping us to carry out activities which transcend normal human ability.
Even our Lord enjoyed this empowerment. Although the eternal God in human flesh (Jn 1:1, 14, cf. Col 2:9, Heb 1:3), He divested Himself of the privileges of His deity as a Man, a phenomenon theologians fondly call “the kenosis” (see Philip 2:5-8, cf. 2 Corin 8:9, Heb 2:9, 14-18, 5:7-9). In His flesh, He depended on the Holy Spirit’s empowerment to function. This began at His baptism, where the Holy Spirit descended upon Him (Matt 3:16). He did all the wondrous work He did (Matt 4:23-24, 9:35, Lk 6:17-19, cf. Acts 2:22), only because the Spirit had enabled Him to do so. In Acts 10:38, Peter summarizes His earthly ministry thus, “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him” (see also Lk 4:1, 14, 18). The Old Testament had prophesied concerning this; the Spirit would rest upon the Messiah and empower Him to carry out God’s plan on the Earth (see Isa 11:1-5, 61:1-2).
The life of Christ thus forms an example for the Christian today—one where miracles can be expected to follow our ministry of the Gospel. Jesus ministered in the anointing and power of the Spirit during His earthly mission, and He promised all who believe that they too would receive such supernatural empowerment, “And these signs will follow those who believe: in My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover” (Mrk 16:17-18). Before His ascension He commanded His disciples, “Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high” (Lk 24:49). Likewise, He says in Acts 1:5, after teaching them for 40 days, “For John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now” and then, “…you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8).
The word “power” (Acts 1:8) translates the Greek “dunamis” (δύναμις). It refers to miraculous power; the divine ability to carry out mighty works. So, this is not just “inward strength” or “comfort.” It is a supernatural enablement to wrought miracles, as we carry out the mission of evangelism (Matt 28:18-20, Mrk 16:15-16, Lk 24:46-47, Jn 20:22-23) given by Christ.
This promise of the miraculous power of the Spirit accompanying all who believe first begins to be fulfilled in the Book of Acts. On the Day of Pentecost the power of the Holy Spirit came upon the believers (Acts 2:1-3), and almost immediately miracles began to accompany the preaching of the Gospel. About 120 disciples spoke in tongues that day (Acts 2:4). From this point onward, the Book of Acts is filled with numerous accounts of miracles wrought by the Early Church; Peter healed the lame man at the Beautiful Gate (Acts 3:1-10). The apostles performed “many wonders and signs” (Acts 2:43, 5:12). Stephen was described as “full of faith and power” and performed “great wonders and signs among the people” (Acts 6:8). Philip’s ministry in Samaria was accompanied by healings, exorcisms, and miracles, leading to great joy in the city (Acts 8:5-8, 13). Ananias laid hands on Saul so that he might receive both his sight and the Holy Spirit (Acts 9:17-18). Peter healed Aeneas (Acts 9:32-35) and raised Tabitha from the dead (Acts 9:36-42). Through Paul, God performed “unusual miracles,” so that even handkerchiefs carried from him became mediums through which God healed the sick (Acts 19:11-12). Paul also healed the cripple at Lystra (Acts 14:8-10), cast out an evil spirit from a slave girl (Acts 16:16-18), was protected from being bitten by a deadly snake (Acts 28:3-6), and healed many on the island of Malta (Acts 28:7-9).
Now, a recent view, known as cessationism, argues that the gifts of the Spirit were only exercised by the Apostles (or their close associates). They were never meant for lay (“ordinary”) believers. Thus, the gifts ended and ceased to operate, with the death of the last apostle, John, at the end of the first century. We should therefore not expect Christians today to walk in the gifts. Such perspective is thoroughly erroneous and cannot be honestly founded upon Scripture.
Our Lord was clear when He earlier said, “…he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father” (Jn 14:12). This promise is to “he who believes,” not merely to the Twelve (see also Mrk 16:17-18). Even in His earthly ministry, Jesus commissioned seventy others, asides the Twelve to work miracles (Lk 10:1, 9). These were not apostles. Jesus later affirmed their miraculous ministry (Lk 10:17-19).
Even the Book of Acts shows several non-apostles performing miracles; Stephen (Acts 6:8), Philip (Acts 8:5-8), Ananias (Acts 9:10, 17-18), Philip’s four daughters (Acts 21:8-9) etc. Luke constantly records that “they were ALL (i.e. the entire Church) filled with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:4, 4:31). There was no such thing as the gifts of the Spirit reserved exclusively for the Apostles. This is why Peter, inspired of the Lord, begins his sermon on the Day of Pentecost by quoting the prophet Joel, “‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, that I will pour out of My Spirit on ALL FLESH; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, your old men shall dream dreams. And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; and they shall prophesy’” (Acts 2:17-18, cf. Jl 2:28-29). Notice, the outpouring of the Spirit (as well as the consequent miracles that follow) is on ALL FLESH, that is, all of God’s people, not only the Apostles.
In fact, the Epistles, which the Apostles themselves wrote, show that these miraculous manifestations were not confined to the apostolic office alone. Paul is crystal clear that, “…the manifestation of the Spirit is given to EACH ONE for the profit of all” (1 Corin 12:7). The Spirit distributes His gifts “to EACH ONE individually as he wills” (1 Corin 12:11). Every believer can walk in the gifts of the Spirit, not just a select few.
In his epistle to the churches of Galatians, Paul reveals that God was “supplying the Spirit” and “working miracles” amongst them (Gal 3:5). Observe, Paul was writing to congregations, not apostles. The miracles occurred within the Churches, by LAY believers!
James taught that Church elders could pray for the sick, expecting them to be healed (Jas 5:14-16). Here, James affirms that the ministry of healing could occur in ordinary local churches, without the presence of an Apostle being required. Similarly, the writer of Hebrews is clear that God affirms the preaching of the Gospel “with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit…” (Heb 2:3-4). Cessationism is therefore a strange thing, alien to the Scriptures, and must be entirely disregarded. The New Testament is emphatic on the point; ALL who believe can and should work miracles!
Thus, to embrace the Holy Spirit merely as the One who saves us is to embrace only part of His New Testament ministry. The same Spirit who regenerates also empowers. The same Spirit who indwells also equips us to walk in the miraculous. The same Spirit who seals us till the day of redemption also distributes supernatural gifts to everyone who believes. We must therefore embrace ALL that the Spirit of God is doing in His Church today.
© Josh Banks Ministries. 2026.
