I was surprised when I received my first words of knowledge and wisdom. God was opening my eyes to more things of the Spirit, but I was suspicious because I had observed misuse of these powerful gifts. My husband wanted to listen to a traveling preacher who operated in gifts of the Holy Spirit. During the meeting, this preacher called me forward and told me of some things that had happened in a previous parish. I had never met this man; only my husband and a close friend knew of these things. How did he know this? The Holy Spirit told him. Knowing that God had seen and knew my pain was faith-building.
What is a Word of Knowledge?
A Word of Knowledge is a Holy Spirit-given revelation about a fact, a current circumstance, or something that took place in the past. This kind of word can reveal the whereabouts, conditions, nature, or thoughts of a person, place, or thing, even when it is impossible to know it in the natural.” Bryan Nutman[1]
The knowledge can be trivial such as the location of a lost billfold, or essential such as life-saving measures in a crisis. The Holy Spirit can give us a download because God knows all and, for His reasons, gives us supernatural insight that we could not know on our own.
What is a Word of Wisdom?
The gifts of the Spirit often work together. While a word of knowledge gives facts, a word of wisdom directs how to use the facts. Paul speaks of both. 1 Corinthians 12: 8 To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice; to another, the same Spirit gives a message of special knowledge.[2]Just as the word of knowledge, a word of wisdom comes from the Holy Spirit and would not be known in the natural.
How Do We Receive Words of Knowledge and Wisdom?
The Holy Spirit comes to reside in our hearts as we believe in Jesus. 1 Corinthians 3: 16 Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you?[3] That Spirit can speak to us; often, it sounds much like our own thoughts. It may be an impression, a vision, or a picture in our mind’s eye. God speaks uniquely to each of us. It often is an inner knowing; you just know that you know.
This supernatural information must agree with Biblical truth. Satan does like to counterfeit, so we must use discernment. James 3: 17 But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others, it is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere.[4] If supposed words go against the word of God, discard them.
These gifts are valuable as we move forward to overcome obstacles the enemy wants to put in our way. To learn more, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/worship-with-spiritual-gifts
[1]https://rootsandwingsmi.org/what-is-a-word-of-knowledge/
[2-4]Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188.