
What happened to the gifts of Holy Spirit? Why don’t we see them in many churches today?
First, keep in mind, it says in Revelation 12:11 that we conquer the devil by the blood of the Lamb and the “word of our testimony.”
Our testimony is a powerful force against the enemy. It testifies to the truth of the word of God and the evidence of it operating in our lives that produces life change and transformation.
Transformation is the “new creation” Paul speaks of in 2 Corinthians 5:17. It is not just a declared truth, there is a testimony and measurable, observable change of that transformation.
So, my testimony is that I was brought up in mainstream Christianity which is by and large cessationist. This brand of Christianity do not believe the Holy Spirit operates in the same power, force and supernatural gifts that were exhibited in Acts 2-28. My early life was in the Methodist church. I then spent a few years in the Nazarene church. Then I spent 10 years in the Southern Baptist church.
Back in the late 1990’s I was in a season of life having a serious health crisis that threatened my life. I began to seek the Lord harder than any other time of my life. I could not find a doctor that could diagnose me correctly. I was greatly humbled and desperation had been increasing. I finally received diagnosis and direction from my large animal veterinarian. (I was a dairy farmer in Arizona at the time) This resulted in a major invasive, extremely painful surgery. After the surgery, recovery was very slow and painful.

I truly wanted more of God than I ever had before. I began to hunger for Him more and more. I went to a weekend retreat with a group of men. This movement was called “Walk to Emmaus.” I asked the Lord for everything He had for me. I was ready for whatever it was. I was fully surrendered. I began to grow dissatisfied with the church I was attending. This also led me to deeper levels of repentance. I began to ask the Lord to show me things in my life that grieve Him. The Bible says in Jeremiah 29:13 we will find Him when we seek Him with all our heart.
These formed the stepping stones to an encounter with Holy Spirit, not at any church, but out on the farm in the corral with my Holstein cows where I began to prophesy and then speak in another language/tongues. My life has never been the same since. I feel His presence and power in my life far greater than I have ever in the previous 20 years of my life. I have also laid hands on the sick and they have been healed. I have cast out demons and I have experienced many words of knowledge in ministry to people over the years. My testimony matches the things described in the Bible. I have not attained the level that my shadow heal people like Peter (Acts 5:15).
All I can report is, Holy Spirit is real. God is real. Yeshua is alive. Holy Spirit is extremely powerful. I continue to ask Him to show me things that are in my life and in my household and in the church that grieve Him. I seek to repent and remove things that grieve Him.
My goal is to keep this brief. Please consider the following scriptures. This list is not exhaustive.
Holy Spirit “pouring out on His people.”
Proverbs 1:23
Isaiah 32:15,44:3
Ezekiel 39:29
Joel 2:28-29
Acts 2:17, 33, 10:45
Romans 5:5
Holy Spirit baptism (fire, not water):
Matt 3:11
Mark 1:8
Luke 3:16
John 1:33
Acts 1:5
Acts 11:16
Holy Spirit gift of tongues:
Acts 2:4, 19:6
1 Corinthians 12:10, 14:2, 14:14
Holy Spirit prophesy:
1 Samuel 10:6, 19:20
Joel 2:28
Acts 2:17-18, 19:6
1 Corinthians 14:1
When these things and other gifts are not in operation then there must be a reason. Here are some biblical reasons you may not be experiencing the fullness of Holy Spirit:
1 Thessalonians 5:19 -Do not quench Holy Spirit.
Ephesians 4:30 -Do not grieve Holy Spirit
Unbelief- Matt 13:58; Mark 6:5, 9:24
Neglecting Holy Spirit – 1 Timothy 4:14
Failure to “fan into flame” ( anazōpyreō ) the gifts of God – 2 Timothy 1:6
Failure to ask for the gifts of Holy Spirit – Luke 11:13
Some gifts will cease when Jesus returns-
1 Corinthians 10:13 “when perfection comes, the imperfect will pass away.
“teleois” Strongs- the perfect state of all things, to be ushered in by the return of Christ from heaven.”
Until Yeshua returns, we need everything Holy Spirit has available to us so we can complete the mission here on earth. Like Jacob, do not let go until He blesses you (Genesis 32:26) . Do not give up, do not stop seeking Him until He blesses you and baptizes you in Himself!
We should not do ministry without Holy Spirit gifts and His power operating in our life. Anything short of this is misrepresenting Yeshua.
Acts 1:4-8
Notice the word “power.” (“dynamis“- power, mighty work, miracle, virtue, excellence of soul)
Paul warns of a time when people will have a form of godliness (outward religious activity) but deny the power. Paul says to Timothy, “have nothing to do with them.”
2 Timothy 3:1 But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power (same word- “dynamis“). Avoid such people.
Could it be that the absence of the power of Holy Spirit contributed to the “lukewarmness” Yeshua warned about in the church of Laodicea:
Revelation 3 15 “‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. 17 For you say, “I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing,” not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.
The Bible give us the command to “avoid such people” who do not operate in the power and gifts of Holy Spirit! Time is short and we do not have time to mess around with a weak, powerless watered down gospel!
From this perspective it may be interpreted as “sbenoomi” (put out the fire) “quenching the Spirit” to deny or restrict the freedom of operating in all the gifts of Holy Spirit. We also grieve Holy Spirit when we have un-confessed sin, un-forgiveness, rivalry, dissension, disunity and when we refuse to operate in certain gifts of Holy Spirit.
It may be interpreted as arrogance, conceit or pride to assume that we do not want or need certain gifts of Holy Spirit. Who are we to tell Holy Spirit, sorry I won’t do that?
If certain gifts of Holy Spirit are not flowing in ministry we must assume that He has been “lupeo” (to make sorrow) “grieved” because of sin, impure motives, church politics, false doctrine, traditions of man, arrogance, pride and/or a controlling disposition and has withdrawn His gifts and anointing.
Yeshua came and died to set us free. When He returned to the Father, He sent Holy Spirit to enable us to complete the work of healing the sick, delivering people from oppression and bondage. Why would He withdraw anything from us that we need to complete our mission? He would NEVER DO THAT!!!!
Matthew 7:11 “If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!”
When the gifts of Holy Spirit are not flowing and operating in ministry to hurting, lost, broken people in spiritual bondage it is most biblically responsible to assume that Holy Spirit has not changed. The church has changed. In these last days we must repent and remove the obstacles and hindrances of Holy Spirit from being able to flow and operate fully and powerfully in the church. Be unashamed! Hold nothing back!
Be a “Continuationist!” Holy Spirit is alive and well.
Blessings
Amen


















