1 Cor 12v 7 'But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:...'
v31: For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged.
John 14v12 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater worksthan these he will do, because I go to My Father. 13 And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask[c] anything in My name, I will do it.
1 Cor 12v31 But earnestly desire the best[d] gifts.
Gal 3v5: 'Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?--'
There are peculiar times when the Lord pours out His Spirit in a way that is so evident and so large in effect, that all those that are His are caught up in it in some fashion, and in such a way that is directly manifested by a powerful moving in the gifts of the Spirit, in order to testify to the truth of the Gospel and the love of Christ for mankind and His call for their repentance. In one sense this seems unusual, but in another, we should not be at all surprised by it because all the family of God have been given the Spirit, and have the ability to move in the gifts of God at any time and in any circumstance and era, according to those imparted to them (1 Cor 12v7), and to those they desire and have been given (John 14v13-14). However, for whatever reason, His people do not always desire to strongly move in the gifts of the Spirit, or not in the ways that are available to us. But the Lord does (He doesn't change). And, while at times the Lord allows the ebbs and flows for His purposes and His own reasons, there are times when He chooses to move in such a way that is irresistible to His people, as His Spirit moves so strongly over the waters of our hearts (Gen 1v2) that He creates in us an incredible desire to take hold of that for which He is taking hold of us at that time (Phil 3v12).
When the Spirit was first poured out at pentecost, those that received it were suddenly thrust into direct ministry with the gifts they were given (which were gifts that were quite similar); the Apostles moving in signs, wonders and miracles, all while testifying to the Gospel, and thus teaching and evangelising which ultimately led to preaching to the saved, and building up the family of God through prophesy. Most, if not all of the gifts were utilised at a time when God moved to shine forth the Gospel in way that created a dramatic expansion of the Kingdom of God. The upper room of God saw the fire of God land upon every head, and all concerned became 'a flame of fire' for His Kingdom. This began to fulfil what was spoken of in Joel, that God would pour out His Spirit on all people and that everyone would be involved in the work of God, whether small or great (people forget that the Apostles were unlearned men! and were, at first, fisherman!). By the simple hearing of faith, and nothing else, God began to work great miracles through these simple servants of God, because they believed in Christ. By faith they began to do what Jesus had done, because they simply believed what He had said; John 14v12 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater worksthan these he will do, because I go to My Father. When the Spirit was poured out, they didn't try and get all their theological ducks in a row about the gifts of the Spirit (though there is nothing wrong with that!), they simply did what Jesus had done, believing that they had been equipped, even as Jesus said they would be: Acts 1v8: 'But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."' We have received that same power, and so can do even what Jesus did, for His sake, and for the sake of the Gospel and those He will save. They didn't try and say that the work of God was just for some, but not for them; the mandate of the Lord was crystal clear, and they were going to serve in just the way that Jesus had said they would.
Though this applies just as much in a time when the move of God isn't evident in a comprehensive way (although the Spirit is always moving, whether we see it or not), there are also particular times when the Lord chooses to move through His people in a very evident, emphatic and even spectacular manner. When the Spirit was given at pentecost, it was to a world desperately in need of it, for they were in desperate need for their eyes to be opened and in desperate need of the Gospel. A light then shined at a time when no-one had expected it, and in a time when truth seemed very scarce, and the hope of Israel far away. Then just as suddenly, the Churches of God seemed to move in the gifts of God in an extraordinary manner as well; nearly everyone wanted to prophesy in the Church of Corinth, and Paul wrote to the Galatians, explaining to them that the miracles they were seeing were a result, purely of the grace of God. Those of the Church of Corinth seemed to all have something to contribute when they came together to encourage each other in the faith (1 Cor 14v26), and Paul told them that each of them had been given an impartation of the Spirit. We each have already been given a gift or gifts of the Spirit, and have already been endued with power from the Lord; we all have been given a pentecost! We can all choose to do those things that Jesus did, if we simply believe the words that He spoke to the disciples. Those that believe is the only qualification (those that are saved). It is exciting to think that such a day is coming again, for, as long as the Lord sits on the throne, it is inevitable that another time like the Apostles saw and that many men, since that time, have themselves seen, will come again. The book of Joel and the beginning of the book of Acts makes that very clear. But since we don't know when that day will be, why not live like it is already here? Since we have been given what we need, why not walk like the Lord and like the Apostles did, today? For who knows whether, if more and more of the body of Christ believed and walked in this manner, we would suddenly that great day! It is God who works in us for such a thing, and if we will agree with the willing that is inside of us (the Spirit's desire) and 'doing', then He is always willing to fulfil and be true to His Word- Phil 2v13: '...for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.'
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