Gifts of the Spirit pt.2-Word of Knowledge

The gift of the word of knowledge is the supernatural revelation by the Holy Spirit of certain facts in the mind of God. These facts are about the past or the present. These facts are not about the future.

The word of knowledge is a fact that is not otherwise known by the person to whom the Holy Spirit gives this word. In other words, God reveals an existing fact about the past or present that has never entered the ears or eyes of the person receiving this word of knowledge.

The Holy Spirit can reveal a word of knowledge in numerous ways. For example, through an inward revelation, the audible voice of God, a vision, or a dream.

Two New Testament Examples

Revelation 2:8–11. The Apostle John had been exiled on the Isle of Patmos when he experienced what we know as the book of Revelation. In chapters 2 and 3, Jesus tells John to write what he is told and send those writings as letters to the seven churches in Asia. John is given information about recent past events and the current state of each church. John was given these facts through the gift of the word of knowledge.

Here is the letter to the church in Smyrna:

To the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again. I know your afflictions and your poverty-yet you are rich! I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death.

Did you notice the two sentences that contain the word of knowledge? (“I know your afflictions and your poverty-yet you are rich! I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan”—past and present facts.)

Acts 5:1–4

Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. With his wife's full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles' feet. Then Peter said, "Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? Didn't it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn't the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God.”

Through the word of knowledge Peter knew three things about Ananias:

1. That Satan filled his heart
2. That he (Ananias) lied
3. That he did not give the full portion of the money as he said he did

This was a significant word of knowledge in that it exposed a sin that God wanted to judge immediately:

When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened. (v.5)

Through this word of knowledge and then God’s immediate judgment, all of those that heard what happened saw the severity of God (Romans 11:22) and were filled with godly fear.

About three hours later, Ananias’s wife received the same judgment and that even more people were affected by the word of knowledge and the judgment: “great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events” (v.11).

Modern Day Example

Several years ago and in a neighboring county, the twelve-year-old daughter of a pastor was suddenly missing. Her bike was found about a mile away from her house. After several days, the pastor and his wife pleaded on television for her safe return. The pain in their hearts was very great and evident.

One night, while praying for the girl’s safe return, the Lord gave me a vision. I saw the girl who was missing. She was standing next to Jesus. The Lord said, “She is with me and her pain is gone.”

A few weeks later, and hundreds of miles away, a man was arrested for attempting to abduct a child. He confessed to abducting the pastor’s daughter and told of the torture he committed on her before murdering her.

The word of knowledge can reveal something as seemingly insignificant as the location of a lost ring or it can reveal a major sin that God wants to judge immediately.

Recapping the Nine Gifts of the Spirit

Gifts that Reveal Something: 

• Word of Knowledge
• Word of Wisdom
• Discerning of Spirits

Gifts that do Something:

• Gift of Faith
• Working of Miracles
• Gifts of Healing

Gifts that Say Something: 

• Prophecy
• Divers Kinds of Tongues
• Interpretation of Tongues

It is my prayer for you that Father will continue to help you to hear His voice, and more and more frequently.

With God’s grace and in His peace,

Gary

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Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.

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