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IX.       INTRODUCTION: GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT

 

The gifts of the Spirit, listed in the twelfth chapter of I Corinthians, are actually three groups of three gifts. These gifts are grouped as, vocal gifts, power gifts, and revelation gifts. The three groups have three each gifts in them.

 

A.        Vocal Gifts:

 

These gifts say something. They are the gift of prophecy, diverse kinds of tongues, and interpretation of tongues.

 

B.        Power Gifts:

 

These gifts do something. They are the gift of faith, working of miracles, and gifts of healings.

 

C.        Revelation Gifts:

 

These gifts reveal something. They are the gift of the word of wisdom, word of knowledge, and discerning of spirits.

 

D.        Fruit and Gifts of the Spirit are Different

 

The fruits of the Spirit are developed within us as we grow while the gifts of the Spirit are given without merit, as stated in I Cor. 12:11, "dividing to every man severally as he will". These spiritual gifts can become operative immediately after being received. This fact is proven in Acts 19:6 "and spake with tongues, and prophesied." This happened immediately after Paul had laid his hands upon them.

 

There are some things we must learn in regard to the operation of spiritual gifts. It is not necessary for us to be tested, tempted, chastised, before we can use the spiritual gifts. In fact, it is pointed out in the scripture that we do not have to have the fruit of the Spirit, before operating in the gifts. The book of I Corinthians teaches this. The trouble some churches have is just this - in most cases, the operation of the gifts without the fruit of the Spirit. This is the whole reason for the thirteenth chapter of I Corinthians, which is about love, that is needed to balance the spiritual gifts.

 

These manifestations of the Holy Spirit come from the indwelling Spirit, received at the baptism of the Holy Ghost. But fruit is produced by the method of spiritual growth, and comes from the divine nature received at the new birth. It cannot be produced until self, or the old nature, is put to death. So, in this sense, it is a gradual growth, the old nature giving way to the new nature.

 

Some believers put to one side any thought of spiritual gifts, and seek only to produce the fruit of the Spirit in their Christian experience. If we, as children of God, do not walk in all the light we have, we can never produce the fruit of the Spirit. The gifts of the Spirit are not optional;' they are a command of God. Paul makes this clear in I Cor. 14:37. Not only is the instruction regarding the gifts, but also the receiving of them, a command of God.

 

The scriptural procedure in regard to spiritual growth in our lives is pointed out to us in I Cor. 14:1, “Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts." It takes both fruit and gifts for spiritual growth.

 

X.        THE WORD OF WISDOM - SHOWS THE FUTURE

 

God is omniscient, all wise, knowing all so He is the one who gives the word of wisdom, I Corinthians 12:1 and 12:4 - 11, Ecc. 8:8.

 

This verse does not say that to all is given the word of wisdom or that a person chooses a particular gift. Holy Spirit divides to the ones He chooses as He will. Notice also that this is not the gift of wisdom, as some people call it.

 

Isaiah 33:6 tells us that stability comes from wisdom and knowledge. Who else should we get our wisdom and knowledge from except the one who knows all?

 

The word of wisdom is special insight given by the Holy Spirit on how to respond to a particular situation or need. This gift is supernaturally bestowed by God in a given situation. It is not something that one can acquire through reading or studying but through the power of the Holy Spirit. After receiving it, one must walk intimately with Christ and allow the Holy Spirit to take full control so that one can develop spiritual ears to hear what God is saying. This gift will help us to govern our affairs better and beat the devil at his own game.

 

The word of wisdom and the word of knowledge work closely together. While the word of knowledge exposes the problem in a given situation, the word of wisdom reveals the solution to the problem. This kind of wisdom exceeds man's intellect. It is superior to all the natural wisdom man can ever come up with. There are different types of wisdom one can have, but the wisdom received through the Holy Spirit is the more excellent.

 

A.        The Word of Wisdom

 

The word of wisdom is a supernatural revelation by the Spirit of God concerning the plan and the divine purpose in the mind of God.

 

1.         Christ is made unto us wisdom and the power of God, I Cor. 1:18 -30. According to I Cor. 2:2 -13, He is the wisdom of God. In James 3:13 - 18, we can see the difference between earthly and Godly wisdom.

 

2.         Colossians 2:3 tells us that in Christ are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

 

B.        Word of Knowledge and Wisdom Work Together

 

The word of wisdom and knowledge often operate together.

 

1.         The main difference between them is that the word of wisdom brings a revelation of the future, while the word of knowledge brings a revelation of something that has already happened or something that is happening now.

 

C.        No Positional Office

 

1.         The word of wisdom is when God puts part of His mind into our mind. God's wisdom cannot be prepared with anyone or anything, such as books, experiences, etc.

 

2.         James 1:22 tells us that no office in the body of Christ is positional, but functional.

 

D.        Scriptural Example

 

A scriptural example is Acts 9:10 through 16. God showed Ananias and Paul in a vision what was happening and where. This was the word of knowledge first, (v. 10-13). Then the Lord spoke to Ananias again and gave him further revelation which was the word of wisdom. The word of wisdom revealed God's plan and purpose of what Paul was going to do in the future.

 

E.        Wisdom is Applied Knowledge

 

1.         Wisdom is the ability to arrive at the most perfect end in the most perfect way, Proverbs 2:1-7.

 

2.         God is like an author. He knows how the book will start and finish. He knows what each character in the book will do. Each character only knows his part until the author tells him.  Read Proverbs 4:5-7, Proverbs 8:11,   and Proverbs 16:16.

 

3.         In I Cor. 2:1-5, Paul tells the believers in Corinth to stand on the wisdom of God.

 

4.         In James 1:5 he says that we can get wisdom if we lack wisdom, just by asking of God.

 

5.         I Cor. 12:8 tells us that the word of wisdom is divine revelation of the mind of God and it shows future or prediction.

 

a.         Future or prediction is not the same as prophesying or operating in the gift of prophecy that Paul speaks about in I Cor. 14:13. This scripture deals with what prophecy is to the body of Christ. The things that should come out of prophecy are:

 

- Edification

 

- Exhortation

 

- Comfort

 

F.         Simple Prophecy - No Revelation/Prediction

 

A simple prophecy does not have a revelation or prediction of the future, but a gift of prophecy does. In I Corinthians 14:6, Paul lists the distinction between revelation and prophesying.

 

1.         In Acts 14:6, Agabus had a word of wisdom and a gift of prophesy operating in him when he told Paul of his future events.

 

2.         John had the word of wisdom and the word of knowledge operating in him, Revelations 2:1-7.

 

3.         In II Kings 20:1-6, Isaiah told Hezekiah that he would die...Hezekiah repented and God healed him.  This was the word of wisdom, and it showed that Hezekiah would live and not die.

 

4.         In Jonah 1:1-3, God gave Jonah a word of wisdom about Nineveh that it was going to be destroyed. He disobeyed God and paid the price for it.

 

5.         In Jonah 3:1-6, the word of wisdom came to Jonah and he warned the people of Nineveh. The results were repentance of the Ninevites as they acknowledged God and repented.

 

6.         In Acts 8:26-29, the word of wisdom can come through an angel as it did to Philip concerning an Ethiopian eunuch. The word of wisdom does not reveal to us the whole wisdom of God, but only what we need when we need it.

 

7.         In Acts 9:10-11, the word of wisdom came through a vision to Ananias.

 

8.         In Acts 27:22-25, the word of wisdom came to Paul concerning their lives that none of the crew nor of the passengers would perish, though they would lose the boat.

 

9.         The word of wisdom came to Joseph in Matthew 1:18-23. This was the announcement concerning the birth of Christ.

 

G.        Kinds of Wisdom

 

1.         Natural wisdom

 

This is the wisdom of our minds. It comes from the God-given ability to reason, learn, and remember and then to apply knowledge thus gained. Natural wisdom is a benefit for the progress of mankind. When this wisdom is not used wisely it can cause a lot of harm. It must be submitted to the wisdom of Christ, otherwise God says, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate", I Cor. 1:19.

 

2.         Fallen wisdom

 

This refers to the wisdom of the spirit world as it is seen in evil practices, psychic knowledge, or witchcraft, for example. God's word forbids us from taking part in such wisdom.

 

3.         Spiritual wisdom

 

The book of Proverbs is full of descriptions of this kind of wisdom, and it urges us to seek it as King Solomon did. Spiritual wisdom, a necessity for Christian living day to day, is imparted by the Holy Spirit as we meditate on the scriptures and pray. The apostle Paul speaks of spiritual wisdom. in I Cor. 1:24 and Col. 1:9. James 1:5 assures us that if any of lack wisdom, God has it and will give it to us.

 

4.         Word of wisdom

 

This is that sudden, miraculous gifting which comes from the mind of God through the Holy Spirit to a yielded human mind.

 

 

 

H.        How the Word of Wisdom Functions

 

1.         Through spiritual intuition

 

Through the spiritual intuition you can sense or hear with your spiritual ears the voice of the Spirit. You can suddenly sense God's will in a matter or know what to say in a particular situation. For example, the Spirit warned Paul not to go to Bithynia, but to go to Troas in Acts 16:6-8. In this case, we need to tune our spiritual ears to the Holy Spirit.

 

2.         Spirit quickened.

 

The Spirit can quicken a word from the scriptures that is specifically for the hour or situation one might be in.

 

3.         God speaking.

 

God can speak in an audible voice the way he did to Elijah, Philip, or Ananias, I Kings 19:12-18; Acts 8:26, 29; Acts 19:10-17. Some people do not think that God can speak in an audible voice today. God has not ceased to communicate with His people nor is He limited to one method of communication.

 

4.         Spiritual leaders, dreams, or visions.

 

God can use other spiritual leaders, dreams, or visions, to give you the word of wisdom. For example, Jesus appeared to Cornelius in a vision and instructed him to go and find Peter to pray for him.

 

I.          Where is This Wisdom From?

 

We need to know this wisdom is from God, and no matter what we do, our natural wisdom cannot duplicate it. One can have all the knowledge of the world, but wisdom is reserved for the humble and for those who acknowledge the fact that they need it. We should:

 

1.         Pray for wisdom, James 1:5

 

2.         Ask for wisdom, II Chronicles 1:7,10

 

3.         Fear the Lord and begin to experience true wisdom, Psalms 111:10

 

XI.       THE WORD OF KNOWLEDGE

 

Romans 1:11 “For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established.

 

A.        Read I Cor. 12:8

 

1.         Spiritual gifting ignorance

 

In verse 1, Paul admonished the church at Corinth not to be ignorant concerning spiritual gifts. Certainly Christ does not want the church today to be ignorant. In verse 2, Paul spoke of dumb idols. This means dead gods.

 

2.         Wrong spirits speaking.

 

In verse 3, Paul is speaking of idol worshippers under the influence of wrong spirits that would rise in the service when the gifts of the Holy Spirit would be in operation and would say that Jesus was accursed. When Holy Spirit speaks, He will always call Jesus Lord.

 

B.        Read These Scriptures for More Insight

 

I Peter 1:15, 16, 18 & 22; John 15:3 & 7; I Corinthians 2:9-16; II Peter 1:2-9;  Romans 1:8-13; I Peter 5:10; Philippians 4:7

 

C.        God Communicates

 

God has many ways of communicating with his people. The word of knowledge will sometimes operate through a vision, dream, an inward revelation, tongues and interpretation, and the gift of prophecy.

 

1.         An angel might come to deliver a word of knowledge, by an inward voice of the Spirit of God, or by the handwriting on the wall. Daniel 5:1-8, 5:11-17, and 5:23-30.

 

D.        Read Colossians 2:1-3

 

In Jesus are all the treasures of wisdom & knowledge.

 

E.        Read Revelations 1:1-2, 10-18

 

Jesus appeared to John in a vision while he was in the Spirit on the Lord's Day on the island of Patmos. Jesus revealed to John in a vision the condition of the seven churches in Asia Minor. John, being on the isle of Patmos couldn't possibly have known, in the natural, the spiritual condition or what was going on in those churches. Jesus revealed it to him. This was the word of knowledge.

 

F.         Supernatural Illumination

 

The God of all knowledge drops the word of His knowledge into us and our spirit and mind is then illuminated supernaturally.

 

1.         Peter received the word of knowledge about Ananias and Sapphira, but not about any others. All got the message though, Acts 5:1-5.

 

2.         In Acts 9:10-18, Ananias saw in a vision instruction from the Lord to go and pray for a man called Saul of Tarsus. In the natural, Ananias did not know that in a certain house on a certain street a man named Saul was praying at the same time. That was a supernatural revelation- a word of knowledge. It came to him in a vision.

 

3.         In Acts 10:1-20, Cornelius received a word of knowledge, from an angel where Peter was staying.

 

4.         In Acts 13:6-12, Paul had the word of wisdom, knowledge, discerning of spirits, and working of miracles when he prayed that Elymas the sorcerer would be blinded for a season.

 

5.         In Acts 10:1-20, Peter received a word of knowledge from a vision while praying on the rooftop. The Lord showed him not only to not be exclusive with the gospel, but also the three men that were at the gate.

 

6.         Jesus, by the word of knowledge, saw Nathanael under the fig tree, John 1:47-49.

 

7.         Jesus, by word of knowledge, told the woman at the well that she had five husbands, and that the one that she is living with now is not her husband, John 4:10-19.

 

8.         God told Elijah to go to the brook Cherith because it would be the only brook in the land that will have water and the ravens will bring food to you there, I Kings 17:2-8.

 

9.         The word of knowledge came to strengthen and to enlighten the discouraged prophet of God, Elijah, when he begged God under the juniper tree to take his life. He was afraid of Queen Jezebel and thought that he was the only one serving God. Of course, God corrected him, letting Elijah know that he had 7,000 that did not bow their knees to Baal, I Kings 19:1-4, 18.

 

10.       God shared His knowledge with Abraham before destroying Sodom and Gomorrah. Only God and Abraham knew what God was going to do, Genesis 18:17-18.

 

11.       In II Kings 6:8-12, the word of knowledge was given to Elisha to warn the King of Israel about Syrian plans against Israel.

 

12.       In II Kings 5:21-27, the word of knowledge was given to Elisha that his servant, Gehazi, had lied to Naaman and Elisha. Leprosy came upon Gehazi as a result of lying.

 

G.        How The Word of Knowledge Operates

 

Jesus was able to operate in the word of knowledge because He walked in the Spirit, in faith, and in constant communion with the Father, John 5:19, 20. We can operate in this gift by being in the attitude of prayer and by waiting for the leading of the Holy Spirit.

 

1.         You may feel something in your spirit, or hear it in your spiritual ears, or see it with your spiritual eyes.

 

2.         You may experience some form of physical sensations that the person to whom you are ministering is experiencing.

 

3.         You may experience an anointing of power as a sign to minister healing or deliverance to the person.

 

4.         You may see something written or a form of a picture, vision or dream over the person's face or a particular area of his/her body, house, or family, Hos. 12:10; Amos 1:1; 7:1-6; 8:1-2.

 

5.         You may begin to speak supernaturally, apart from your own thought processes. The words may not make sense to you, but they will to the person to whom you are ministering.

 

6.         Sometimes the Spirit may quicken scriptures to you. This is especially so when the word of wisdom is operating in conjunction with the word of knowledge, Psalms 119:18; Acts 15:13-21.

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