The miraculous gifts of healing, speaking in foreign languages, and interpreting foreign languages were introduced at Pentecost for the spreading of the gospel. Acts 2:4-12 "…they were all filled with the holy spirit and began to speak in other tongues …there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven… and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language…we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God." God, through the holy spirit, gave believers foreign languages in order to be able to tell those devout Jews about God's plan of salvation. Similarly, Jesus used miracles and healing to support His claim that He was the Messiah and Savior. As Nicodemus said, "…we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him." John 3:2. The Apostles performed miracles in order to establish that they and their message were also from God. (See Acts 2) Additionally, only the Apostles were able to confer these miraculous gifts to believers. Consequently, when the Apostles died and those who had received those gifts through the Apostles died, these unique gifts ceased.
However, the Apostle Paul exhorts all believers to pursue the "greater gifts". I Cor.12:31 "desire earnestly the greater gifts. And a still more excellent way shew I unto you." Those greater gifts or more excellent way is the development of agape love. Yes, only by developing the fruits of the spirit can we grow into Christ's likeness. 2 Peter 1:4-7, "…make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love…for in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." The miraculous gifts of tongues and healing are not mentioned because they are unnecessary to the development of Christian character.
How do we ask for a spiritual gift from God? Always ask in Jesus' name (John 14:13), "Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do…" Ask for wisdom to know what to ask for, (James1:5), "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all…" And finally, ask for a greater portion of the holy spirit (Luke 11:13), "How much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?" God always answers His children's prayers. Sometimes He answers yes, sometimes no, and sometimes wait.
