Is a Book-of-Acts level of connection with the Holy Spirit possible?

[TruthSeek3r]

However, something like the apostles' experience of the Holy Spirit still occurs today. In circumstances where Christ and the Gospel are directly challenged by occult power, I hear of Christians going nose-to-nose with the demonic and God intervening in a supernatural manner, demonstrating to all that He is greater, securing the attention of those looking on, and creating a platform of spiritual authority from which His servants speak and uproot the strongholds of the demonic. In such instances, God has the furtherance of His kingdom, His glorification and the dissolution of occult domination in mind, not just thrilling His children with sensational events as a sort of religious entertainment.

Are you a concentric cessationist by any chance? Your position seems to match their views quite well:

Although the original formulation of cessationism arose in response to claims of healing and miracles in the Catholic Church, cessationists now divide into four viewpoints based on their views about the possibility of miracles among Christians today.[13] These are:

• Full cessationists believe that all miracles have ceased, along with any miraculous gifts.[14]
• Classical cessationists assert that the miraculous gifts such as prophecy, healing, and speaking in tongues ceased with the apostles. However, they do believe that God occasionally works in supernatural ways today.[14]
• Consistent cessationists believe that not only were the miraculous gifts only for the establishment of the first-century church, but the need for apostles and prophets also ceased.[14]
• Concentric cessationists believe that the miraculous gifts have indeed ceased in the mainstream church and evangelized areas, but may appear in unreached areas as an aid to spreading the Gospel. Daniel B. Wallace describes himself as a concentric cessationist and describes the other cessationist viewpoints as "linear".[15]

Source: Cessationism versus continuationism - Wikipedia

 

[ViaCrucis]

I fail to see the logic of this objection. Spiritual growth is entirely dependent upon God's grace. I fail to see how spiritual growth can lead to greater carnality and inward focus. If that were the case, it would be "carnal growth", not spiritual growth.

Growing in faith is a good thing. I'm not saying that's a bad thing. I'm saying that the idea that we can find a deeper connection with God apart from what we have in Christ through faith leads us away from the Holy Spirit, not toward Him.

17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. (2 Corinthians 3:17-18 KJV)

11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; (Ephesians 4:11-14 KJV)

2 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. 3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. 4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. 5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch: 6 Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them. (Acts 6:2-6 KJV)

Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. (1 Corinthians 14:1 ESV)

But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way. (1 Corinthians 12:31 ESV)

-CryptoLutheran

 

[aiki]

Are you a concentric cessationist by any chance? Your position seems to match their views quite well:

Although the original formulation of cessationism arose in response to claims of healing and miracles in the Catholic Church, cessationists now divide into four viewpoints based on their views about the possibility of miracles among Christians today.[13] These are:

• Full cessationists believe that all miracles have ceased, along with any miraculous gifts.[14]
• Classical cessationists assert that the miraculous gifts such as prophecy, healing, and speaking in tongues ceased with the apostles. However, they do believe that God occasionally works in supernatural ways today.[14]
• Consistent cessationists believe that not only were the miraculous gifts only for the establishment of the first-century church, but the need for apostles and prophets also ceased.[14]
• Concentric cessationists believe that the miraculous gifts have indeed ceased in the mainstream church and evangelized areas, but may appear in unreached areas as an aid to spreading the Gospel. Daniel B. Wallace describes himself as a concentric cessationist and describes the other cessationist viewpoints as "linear".[15]

I suppose... I'm not into labels, generally. Does it help, really, to be able to apply this one to me? Often, labels are fixed to people in order to relegate them and their views to a category where they may be confined and ignored as "one of them." Rather than providing clarity and useful discussion, labels tend to do the very opposite. Anyway, labels aside, I can well-ground my thinking in God's word. I would urge you, then, not to dismiss my remarks out-of-hand.