The gift of the Holy Spirit

The effectiveness of every believer in Christ is dependent upon the presence and empowerment of the Holy Spirit.  The last words of Jesus to His disciples before He ascended into Heaven were:

“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.” (Acts 1:8 NKJV).

“How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.” (Acts 10:38 NKJV).

While being born of the Spirit produces the new birth, being empowered for service comes about when we are baptized in the Spirit.  
 

Signs and Wonders

The last days will know an unprecedented display of the power of God like we have never known.   However, it is not an automatic display.   The Bible says, “…earnestly desire and cultivate the spiritual endowments (gifts).” 

(1Corinthians 14:1 The Amplified Bible).

1st Corinthians 12:14,7-11:

“Now about Spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant. 
“There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. 
“Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. “To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 
“to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 
“to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. 
“All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.”

“Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. 
“And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 
“they will pick up snakes (not for show or to tempt God*) with their hands;  and when they (unintentionally*) drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”  (Mark 16:15,17,18 NKJV  *Emphasis added for clarity).

Your desire is key!   If you and I do not earnestly desire the gifts of the Spirit to be in manifestation in our lives, there is little God can do to help us!