The Word of Knowledge

Hello everyone,

How are you doing on this day? I hope well and bubbling in the Lord.

Primary Text

“To one is given in and through the [Holy] Spirit [the power to speak] a message of wisdom, and to another [the power to express] a word of knowledge and understanding according to the same [Holy] Spirit;” 1 Corinthians 12v8 (AMP)

The gift of the word of knowledge is a “supernatural revelation of divine knowledge, or insight in the divine mind, will, or plan; and also the plans of others that man could not know of himself. The word of knowledge is given by the Holy Spirit and it allows a person to know something that otherwise they could never have known. For example we see this in the case of Peter when Jesus was asking who do people say He was, and the disciples said, “… Some say that Thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but My Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 16v14-17, KJV). In a book that I was reading, the following were highlighted as reasons why God gives the word of knowledge:

1.     To warn against imminent judgment e.g. the Lord revealed to Abraham His plans concerning Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 18v17-21), and to Samuel His intentions about Eli (1 Samuel 3v7-15)

2.     To reveal the secret of sin or sinful intentions e.g. giving Peter insight about the lie told by Ananias and his wife, Sapphira (Acts 5v1-5), and telling Elisha of the deed of Gehazi in collecting things from Naaman (2 Kings 5v25-26)

3.     To guide God’s own so that they will not make mistakes e.g. Samuel was guided to anoint David as king and not his brothers (1 Samuel 16v6-12)

4.     To warn about impending danger ahead e.g. Elisha was able to warn the king of Israel about the Syrian king’s plans (2 Kings 6v8-12), and Paul also perceived that there would be danger on a particular journey he was on (Acts 27v9-10)

Supplementary Text

“And it came to pass, when they were to come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the LORD’s anointed is before Him. But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.” 1 Samuel 16v6-7 (KJV)

Reference

Pastor E.A. Adeboye (1997). God the Holy Spirit. Lagos: Christ the Redeemer’s Ministries.