Imagine if Jesus had a party like the kind you went to when you were younger where the host gives everyone a gift of some kind- candy, little toys, etc.  Consider at some point during the party if Jesus came out with the gifts and started handing them out to only a few people.  Now imagine if there were fifty people in the room, but Jesus only gave the first twelve people a gift.  Now imagine if Jesus had promised that everyone who had come would receive a gift.  How would you feel if you weren’t one of the people receiving a gift?  I know I would be hurt and probably would walk over to Jesus and ask Him, “Why didn’t I get a gift?”  And I would also ask, “Why did you promise everyone a gift, if you weren’t going to give one to everybody?”

In the same way with spiritual gifts I find it funny and sad when I hear well-intentioned preachers teach that the gifts of the Holy Spirit were only for the first century believers or that today only a certain chosen few are given the gifts.  The Bible teaches the exact opposite.  Paul said in the above verse that the “manifestation” or “appearance” of the Spirit is given to “each one” and is “given for the common good.”  He also went on to teach in 1 Corinthians 12:11 after naming the nine gifts of the Spirit, “All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.”

Plus, Peter on the Day of Pentecost when the baptism of the Holy Spirit was given for the first time with the evidence of speaking in other tongues stated in Acts 2:39, “The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off –for all whom the Lord our God will call.”  Therefore, you have a promise today to be given not only the baptism of the Holy Spirit but also the gifts of the Spirit just as He determines.

Going back to the previous example of Jesus and the party- one wouldn’t expect Jesus to give the same gift to everyone but one would expect everyone to receive a gift if Jesus had promised to do so.  Therefore, God determines at any particular service or time who is given, (1) the message of wisdom, (2) the message of knowledge, (3) the gift of faith, (4) the gifts of healing, (5) the gift of miraculous powers, (6) the gift of prophecy, (7) the gift of distinguishing between spirits, (8) the gift of speaking in different kinds of tongues, and (9) the gift of interpretation of tongues.

But on the other hand, everyone baptized in the Holy Spirit is given the supernatural ability to pray in tongues as the evidence to receiving the Father’s Promise.  As a result, every Holy Ghost filled believer is eligible to be used in the other nine gifts of the Holy Spirit for the common good in public whenever the Spirit wills it.  Therefore, receive the promise and eagerly desire to be used in the spiritual gifts, 1 Corinthians 14:1!

Action

1. Ask God to remove all doubt and bad teaching concerning the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
2. Pray for God to baptize you with the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in other tongues.
3. Be open and ready for the Spirit to give you His gifts for the good of all!