We can either choose to believe Jesus' own words, or not. I don't see conditions here as John MacArthur points out these promises were for the apostles only. What people don't realize is that the U.S. Government proved the works of Smith Wigglesworth, that he raise several folks from the dead including his own wife - she chewed him out for it too! Agnes Ozman of Topeka, Kansas, received the baptism of the Holy Spirit and spoke in a heavenly language, AND perfect Chinese. As the Pentecostals grew, more and more were able to speak in a heavenly language AND a foreign language. The U.S. Government when to Topeka and authenticated the dialects of earthly languages AND that the unknown tongue was indeed a language unknown on the earth! Like it or not, these are validated facts. I want to get there too!
You don't choose the manifestation of the Spirit that God puts upon you.... God chooses that based on HIS perfect knowledge and will. You can't will yourself into more or different manifestations of the Holy Spirit.... That's actually a SIN.. A serious error - look at Jude's reference to the Rebellion of Korah.... Korah was the Music Director - and a skilled one at that... The Levites that went along with him were Priests... Holy and pious men... but they were Goaded into desiring the gifts that God had laid upon Moses rather than being content to "Shine forth" with the gifts that God had bestowed upon them.... They were looking to OTHER PEOPLE for their happiness and satisfaction rather than looking to God.
God seems to be making the explicit point that we MUST rely upon other believers... We CANNOT do it all by ourselves - God will not stand with us when we try to....
When I went back through 1st Corinthians 12 - I noticed something interesting.... The Manifestations listed fall into 4 groups... It's almost as if God is making the point that you may have ONE in the group - but not all in the group... and that multiple manifestations of the Spirit typically fall across the groups rather than within one....
Here's how it shakes out
Wisdom OR knowledge
Healings upon their body/relief of their tribulations OR faithfulness (Fortitude, obedience, perseverance)
The ability to work Mighty works OR prophecy (Declaring the plan/purposes of God) OR discernment/judging spirits
Speaking in Languages OR interpretation of languages
and think of all the church groups you have attended....
There's a Vision guy and a Go Get it Done guy...
There's people who receive healings on their body and relief from their tribulations and there's OTHER people who exercise exceedingly great faithfulness, perseverance, and fortitude THROUGH withering tribulation and suffering
There's people who know The Answer and other people who provide Wise Counsel which strengthens and comforts....
People who speak Languages and people who Interpret languages....
But - I have also observed that the people who receive healings are often NOT the ones who exercise exceedingly great perseverance, fortitude, and obedience... I have observed that the people who KNOW the Answer are not the ones who provide wise counsel that comforts and strengthens.... I have observed that the ones working mighty works or discerning/judging spirits are NOT the ones who declare the Purposes of God....
How about a bible example....
Barak and Deborah - Judges 4-5... Barak had the Ability to work mighty works, but he had NO prophetic insight into God's specific plans... Deborah had prophetic insight into God's plans and purposes - but no ability to bring mighty works to fruition....
How about Acts 3... The Disciples speaking The Gospel in Tongues.. No indication is made that they understood a word of it... The ones HEARING it were the ones who understood - each in their own native tongue....
We must seek out others with manifestations that compliment our own.. This Diversity will result in furthering the Kingdom... Each of us trying to circle the wagons within our own "Comfort zones" is what gets us into trouble....
Thanks
