1 Cor.12:7 – But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit….
1 Cor.12:31 – But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.
1 Cor.14:1 – Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.
Why are the gifts of the Spirit with the evidence of signs, wonders, and miracles not more common in the church today? It’s not that God is not able or that He is unwilling to pour out His signs and wonders but it has everything to do with fear and apathy. Many times we are afraid to pursue and demonstrate the gifts because we may be afraid of offending some people. Sometimes it could be as simple as ‘what if I step out and nothing happens’. Timothy was apparently having second thoughts about some of this during the time of persecution that was coming on the church. Paul was martyred not long after this and persecution was possibly reaching all the way to Ephesus where Timothy was. Paul remembered the power of signs and wonders demonstrated through the gifts of the Spirit when he started the church in Ephesus. He is telling Timothy to stir those gifts back up. Here is what he said to Timothy in 2 Timothy 1:6, “Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands”. Here is how Albert Barnes described this admonition of Paul to Timothy.
“The original word used here denotes the kindling of a fire, as by bellows, etc. It is not uncommon to compare piety to a flame or a fire, and the image is one that is obvious when we speak of causing that to burn more brightly. The idea is, that Timothy was to use all proper means to keep the flame of pure religion in the soul burning, and more particularly his zeal in the great cause to which he had been set apart. The agency of man himself is needful to keep the religion of the heart warm and glowing. However rich the gifts which God has bestowed upon us, they do not grow of their own accord, but need to be cultivated by our own personal care.”
Our world today, especially the church world pushes back at true manifestations of the Spirit. The church will go so far as to redefine spiritual gifts and reduce them to something less than supernatural. We have an anointing from the Lord and out of that anointing flows the gifts of the Spirit. Pursue spiritual gifts, our world need to see a display of the power of God.