There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. ² For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. ³ For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: ⁴ That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. ⁵ For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. ⁶ For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. ⁷ Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. ⁸ So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. ⁹ But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. ¹⁰ And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. ¹¹ But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. ¹² Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. ¹³ For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. ¹⁴ For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. ¹⁵ For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. ¹⁶ The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: ¹⁷ And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
Romans 8:1-17 (bold and italics have been added for emphasis)

 

The gifts of the Spirit and walking in the Spirit are not the same thing. You can receive and walk in the Spirit without the “gifts” being expressed. For example, it is possible to walk in the Spirit, with the fruit of righteousness, peace, joy, and especially love, without prophesying, speaking in tongues, healing the sick, etc..

That is not to say that the gifts aren’t actively available for those who are walking in the Spirit. I’m simply making the distinction between the two. This is important because Jesus didn’t say- they will know them by their speaking in tongues, prophesying, healings and other spiritual gifts! He said that we would be known by our love.

How much better if that love comes with other gifts- but those gifts are for the unifying, not dividing of the body. And if they would be divisive, we should lay them aside so that we can truly love.

¹¹ And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; ¹² For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: ¹³ Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: ¹⁴ That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; ¹⁵ But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: ¹⁶ From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
Ephesians 4:11-16

So as a part of the body of Christ, we must: Obey Jesus the head, Do not operate in the flesh, rather we must die to my flesh. And thirdly, we must walk in the light.

⁵ This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. ⁶ If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: ⁷ But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. ⁸ If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. ⁹ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. ¹⁰ If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
1 John 1:5-10

Success in the spirit is not measured by numbers of people getting baptized, or spiritual gifts being given, but transformed lives through the power of the pure righteous one, Jesus, who layed down His gifts and calling in order that we would have life.

Our gifts, while valuable, are not the goal, but tools he gave to help us to accomplish His purpose. If we use the gifts He gives us contrary to His will, we will be held accountable by God on that day.

⁹ Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: ¹⁰ That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him
Ephesians 1:9-10

²⁰ Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; ²¹ That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. ²² And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: ²³ I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. ²⁴ Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world. ²⁵ O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me. ²⁶ And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.
John 17:20-26

His Kingdom IS at hand! I’m excited like you are! Keep pursuing the kingdom of God. His will on earth as it is in Heaven! That all things in heaven and on earth will be one through Jesus.

Let Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven!

He is the pure light, the pure righteousness, and the all consuming fire. When his grace enables us to receive his light, he exposes our darkness, and at the same time burns it and all darkness, and as I walk in his pure light, which is the Holy Spirit, there is no battle with darkness. When his light shines, darkness doesn’t do battle, it flees. His truth doesn’t argue with lies, it is truth. This is what the power of the spirit looks like. And yes, while we are maturing, it includes the gifts – which are available for all who walk in His light (Spirit), and we have access to all gifts whenever they are needed. And we should seek for them. 

If we seek the gifts primarily, as has happened in the past 100 years – rather than seek the Kingdom and His righteousness – (which is the gospel, not “being nice to people”, but living inside the power of pure righteousness and light which exposes darkness), the Holy Spirit will follow those who believe and signs and wonders will follow. Those signs are a trail behind us, not in front of us. In front is the kindness, love, and laying down of our lives for our brother.. when he has need, we serve him/her, and heal and cast out demons , and give generously, not primarily to the church, but to the brother who has need.

Regarding money: The church has done exactly what Jesus warned us about. “You cannot serve two masters, you will love one and hate the other”. But the system of the church serves mammon- we have created a system that forces money to be essential for its survival. This is a major problem. While we should be generous in all things, the church is not the storehouse of Malachi, nor is it the place God commanded tithes to be given in Deuteronomy. And yet these lies are spread to this day to manipulate people to give money.

Which we should give money – but not for those reasons, and we should be generous in every aspect of our lives- to other people outside the church as well.

I know that’s another can of worms, but if we were truly walking in discernment of spirits, and prophecy, and apostolic understanding, these things would be obvious to the body. 

It is time for the system of the church to be torn down and for the body to submit to Jesus himself as our head and submit one to another, not lording power over one another, rather those who want to be great, must lay their lives down.

That is what the power of the spirit looks like.

The next move of God will manifest in great power- which will be evidenced in loving each other more than we love money, or the church system, or microphones, or music. 

God is calling to us! Hear His voice!