Was it because the church became unspiritual that gifts like tongues and healings dropped out?

This text is from a transcript of a talk by David Gooding, entitled ‘Finding Your Place in the Body of Christ’ (1989).

No, that isn't true. One reason they dropped out was because the Lord's people listened to the Holy Spirit saying, 'Don't seek tongues, seek prophecy,' (see 1 Corinthians 12:31) and they obeyed the Holy Spirit. That's why they dropped out. Instead of encouraging vast multitudes of people to speak in tongues, we should encourage them to do what the Holy Spirit tells us to do: not to seek tongues but prophecy.

Let me finally say that we all do need to be more aware of the Holy Spirit. Excuse an old man reminiscing, but when I first came to Ireland there were great conferences that were left open because the belief was that the Holy Spirit was the Lord President of the meeting, and he would guide. Then I found the local feeling was that these occasions were being abused by people who rushed to speak or pray, and were evidently not guided by the Holy Spirit. So that type of meeting fell out of favour, and was thought to be 'old Brethren teaching', to use a curious phrase.

That was a pity, because, when it started, it was a genuine attempt to let the Holy Spirit be the Lord President. Now we have a generation that is trying to rediscover that, saying we should be conscious of the presidency of the Holy Spirit. Of course we should. Shame on us, if we just organize meetings and are not conscious of the leading and guiding of the Holy Spirit.

So let nothing I say be construed as discouraging people from waiting on God and knowing more about the guidance of the Holy Spirit in their ministry for the Lord. No, we need to know more about that, and at the same time we do need to hear the Holy Spirit's own judgment and to go for those gifts that edify the church.