The Holy Spirit: Part 3-The Holy Spirit's Gifts

Come, Holy Ghost, God and Lord
With all Your graces now outpoured.
On each believer's mind and heart;
Your fervent love to them impart.
Lord, by the brightness of Your light,
In holy faith Your Church unite;
From every land and every tongue,
This to Your praise, O Lord, our God, be sung:
ALLELUIA,  ALLELUIA!--LSB 497 (st.1)
The Scriptures teach that the Holy Spirit gives gifts to His Church.  They teach that:
A) the Holy Spirit through the Word and Sacraments freely gives to all Christians the most precious gifts: faith in Christ, the forgiveness of sins, and eternal life;
B) in apostolic times the Holy Spirit also gave some Christians the gift to perform miraculous signs and wonders(for example: healings, speaking in tongues, raising the dead).

So what about today?  Are we given, or are some given, miraculous gifts from the Holy Spirit to do signs and wonders in the world for God's kingdom? It is an interesting question!  While I do think that it is certainly possible that God can and does give such gifts; I also think that there are many who claim to have such gifts that actually do not.
The Scriptures do not teach, however, that God will necessarily give all Christians in every time and place special miraculous gifts.  The Holy Spirit bestows His blessings according to His good pleasure. 

Whether or not the Holy Spirit grants us such miraculous gifts as these, He does give us the power and ability to share our faith, and the will to do so, which is the will of the Father and the Son.  This is what we ask for in the name of Christ.
Come Holy Fire, comfort true,
Grant us the will Your work to do.
And in Your service to abide;
Let trials turn us not aside.
Lord, by Your power prepare each heart,
And to our weakness strength impart
That bravely here we may contend,
Through life and death to You, our Lord ascend.
Alleluia, Alleluia!  --LSB 497 (st.3)
Thank you for reading and God bless you!