THE WORD OF KNOWLEDGE.

This is the second gift in the list in 1Cor.12v8-10., and though the word of wisdom is without question the greatest of the spiritual gifts, for it reveals God's plans and purposes, the word of knowledge comes close behind it in importance. Indeed, there is a similar close link between words of wisdom and words of knowledge, as there is between natural wisdom and knowledge. Sometimes we need a word of knowledge to make sense of a word of wisdom, and we often need a word of wisdom to deal with the situation a word of knowledge reveals. A word of wisdom can tell us what to do, a word of knowledge tells us of a fact that we do not know, sometimes it may only need common-sense to act on the revelation of a word of knowledge, at other times we may need the wisdom of God through a word of wisdom.

The three gifts of revelation often occur together, particularly in the ministries of apostles and prophets, we consider them separately because God can and does manifest them separately, and this is particularly true in the local church, where the Lord gives one gift to one and another gift to another to bring a feeling of mutual dependence and love. 1Cor.12v12-31. N.B. v25. The gifts of action rely on the gifts of revelation for information, the gifts of revelation rely on the gifts of power for action, the gifts of inspiration build up character and spiritual strength for the manifestation of the other gifts. Let us now consider some important facts about a word of knowledge.

1. A word of knowledge is not any kind of natural ability or knowledge.

It is a fact that it is supernaturally given by the Holy Spirit of which the recipient has no knowledge, or very occasionally it may confirm as a fact something a child of God may have been told, felt or feared, as when David asked God if the men of Keilah would deliver him up to Saul, God told him they would. 1Sam.23v1-12. We also see that many of Ezekiel's visions were retrospective words of knowledge that revealed and confirmed the sin that had brought about captivity. God knows all the facts of heaven and earth, of time and space, from eternal past to eternal future, and He can reveal them to His children as we need them. The wonder of God's omniscience overwhelmed David, he said, "such knowledge is too wonderful for me," Ps.139v9., his mind could not conceive such knowledge, but by faith and through spiritual gifts he had experienced glimpses of that awesome omniscience. The word of knowledge is totally miraculous, it is not the ability to analyse, explain, or think logically, it is a revelation of facts which the senses could not know by natural means, it is a small part of God's omniscience, i.e. God all-knowledge, revealed to us.

An intelligent, educated person is in no better position to receive a word of knowledge than a child or uneducated person, in fact reliance upon human ability positively hinders the manifestation of this gift, or in fact any spiritual gift. This is why the Lord Jesus chose uneducated fishermen, etc., they had to rely on God to do the miraculous. Those with natural ability and natural knowledge tend to rely on it to do God's work, so God chose "babes and sucklings" and "unlearned men" instead of "the wise and prudent." Lk.10v21,22. Acts.4v13. God will not let any flesh glory in their abilities in His work. 1Cor.1v26-31. The apostle learned that it was not his great scholarship and intellectual ability that caused God to choose him, Paul learned to glory in his limitations, not his abilities, and so Christ's power rested upon him. 1Cor.12v5-10. God places no premium upon ignorance, but He does the very definitely object to self-reliance, and always resists the proud, whether they are ignorant or intellectual. Ps.138v6. James4v6. 1Pet5v5.

2. A word of knowledge is not even a good knowledge of the Scriptures.

It is not the natural talent of a good and keen mind sanctified to the work of God, nor the accumulation of Scripture facts by study, the word of knowledge does not come by intellectual process, it is a result of spiritual revelation. It is not a spiritual revelation from the Scriptures, it is the revelation of some fact given directly from the Holy Spirit. A word of knowledge may come through spiritual preparation diligent prayer and Bible study, as do all the greater gifts, but these are the means of grace whereby we tune ourselves into God, they are not the word of knowledge, the word of knowledge is a divine revelation direct from the Holy Spirit.

A word of knowledge is not a good ministry of the Scriptures, or any kind of preaching and teaching ability, it is the revelation of an unknown fact from God, it is a miracle of revelation designed to demonstrate God's omniscience, care and love. It is not Christian scholarship manifested in anointed teaching and preaching, it is our heavenly Father showing us His divine mercy, by giving us a glimpse of His all-knowledge. Those who continually minister Christian truths and doctrines are set in the Church as teachers, those who continually reveal words of wisdom and knowledge are prophets. The teacher expounds known truth, the prophet, by a word of knowledge or a word of wisdom, reveals the mind and knowledge to God, to meet definite needs.

3. A word of knowledge is not given to pry into peoples lives.

This is not a gift for the critical or interfering busybody, as Paul points out in 1Cor.13., spiritual gifts are for those who want to minister God's love and blessing, they are for the long-suffering and kind. God dare not give this gift to a hard, critical, envious, scandal monger. Even the Christian who is motivated by pure love and manifesting this gift, will not be able to pry into people's lives at will, the spiritual person can only minister this gift when the Holy Spirit desires them to. These gifts are not to condemn, they are given to minister divine life, love and blessing. When God reveals some great need in a person's life it can be to warn you, but it is nearly always so that you may help them and pray for them. A word of wisdom or word of knowledge often do not have to be revealed to others, they can be a personal word from God, or reveal a matter for urgent prayer.

4. Sometimes a person does not realise that they have received a word of knowledge.

Peter said that Christ was the Son of the living God, and it was not until Christ told him that this was a revelation from Go, that Peter realised that he had received a word of knowledge. Mt.16v16,17. Revelations given by words of knowledge can vary very considerably in their method of communication, they can consist of a burden put upon the heart by God, a simple word in the spirit from God, and even visions can vary from a vague and shadowy to a brilliant full colour vision. Those who desire to study the reception of spiritual gifts can read my other book about the gifts.

Definition.

The word of knowledge is a supernatural revelation given by the Holy Spirit, that reveals to us facts that we need to know, but which we could not know other than by divine revelation. It includes all area of knowledge except that covered by the discerning of spirits, the words of wisdom. It can tell us of events or things in the past, present, or future. (Here I disagree with H. Horton, and agree with A. Linford, that the word of knowledge can inform us of future events.)

SOME EXAMPLES AND USES OF THE WORD OF KNOWLEDGE.

1. To warn of dangers ahead.

a. David delivered from Saul at Keilah through the revelation of the peoples intentions, God told David that the inhabitants of Keilah would betray him even though he had delivered them from the Philistines. 1Sam.23v9-12.

b, Israel is delivered from Benhadad because God reveals Benhadad's secret plans to Elisha the prophet. 2Kings.6v8-12.

c. The wise me, Mary and Joseph warned of Herod's intentions by dreams. Mt.2v12,13.

d. Paul warned of the danger at Jerusalem, and the storm. Acts21v10-12. 27v10,11,21-26. Paul ignored the warning Christ gave him in Acts.22v17-21. and got in trouble.

e. Paul warns us of latter day iniquity and false doctrine. 1Tim.4v1-3. 2Tim.3v1.

God can warn us of danger ahead, and so deliver us from it, and this is a major use of the word of knowledge. However, sometimes we cannot avoid the circumstances and dangers ahead, they are in the path of duty, but we can be prepared for them by words of knowledge. If we refuse to listen to warnings from God through this gift of the Holy Spirit, we can expect real trouble and spiritual defeat as the following Scriptures reveal:

(i). Christ was prepared for His death by words of wisdom and knowledge, however, the disciples were unwilling to accept His revelations and were defeated as a result. Mt.16v21-24. 17v22,23. 20v17-19. with Mt.16v55,56. Mk.16v9-14.

(ii). Christ warns Peter of his fall, however, Peter refused to accept the possibility of this and so fell. Jn.13v36-38. 18v25-27. Lk.22v31-34,54-62.

(iii)Christ warns Peter of his death, and this time Peter believed Him and was doubtless encouraged by the fact that he was going to be faithful unto death. Jn.21v18,19. 2Pet.1v13,14. This took the strain and stress out of Peter in prison in Acts.12v5-7., he knew that he was to die an old man, and not a young man, he expected God to deliver him, when the faith of all the rest failed. v13-17. This lovely gift can take the strain and stress out of an unknown future, if we live close to God we can expect our heavenly Father to tell us of great dangers ahead, if He feels that it is necessary. However, God does and can hide great trials from us in His wisdom, He knows which is the best way to help us. God hid the death of the Shunammite's son from Elisha, Elisha had to find out by natural means, and sometimes this is the best for us too, we can rejoice that our lives are in the hands of the great God of love whose wisdom is absolutely perfect.

2. God can reveal a person's character, spiritual condition and thoughts to us. 1Cor.14v24,25.

We can never tell by a person's face, or outside demeanour, what they are like inside, however, God looks upon the heart and can tell us what is there if we need to know it. Without a word of knowledge we can be deceived by people. Even a mature, discerning and wise man like Samuel would have been deceived by the outside appearance of the sons of Jesse, David's brothers had such fine bodies and good-looking faces, that they would have deceived Samuel if God had not revealed their hearts and His choice. 1Sam.16v6,7.

a. God will not let us be deceived by evil people with a respectable veneer.

Ahijah had the deceit of Jeroboam's wife revealed to him. 1Kings14v5,6. Christ had the slander of Judas revealed to Him, Judas was calling Christ "Lord" to His face and slandering Him behind His back. Jn.6v70,71. "Devil" means literally "slanderer." Simon the Pharisees critical thoughts were revealed to Christ and answered by Him. Lk.7v36-40. On another occasion the Pharisees invited Christ to a meal with the intent of trapping Christ, He answered their evil thoughts and frustrated their plan. Lk.14v1-6. Mk.2v5-8. Lk.5v22. Mt.22v15-22. N.B. v18.

b. God can expose the sinners heart. 1Cor.14v24,25.

The revelation of the secrets of a person's life has a profoundly moving effect upon a person, revelations of this kind brought David to repentance after his great sin, and the woman at the well to Christ. 2Sam.12v1-9. Jn.4v16-19,29. Nearly always this gift will be accompanied by the forgiving mercy of God, however, sometimes the sin is so serious that judgement is the only end. Elisha revealed Gehazi's dreadful sin and showed God's opinion of it, leprosy was God's judgement upon this sin. 2Kings5v20-27. Peter revealed that Ananias and Sapphira had lied to the Holy Spirit, and they both died for it. It is sometimes necessary for God to expose the sin that is causing defeat to the people of God as He did in the case of the sin of Achan in Joshua.7v1-26. N.B. v5,13,25. 36 men died because of Achan and his family.

Through the apostle John, Christ revealed the sin and sloth in the seven churches in Rev.2 & 3, only two churches were living as Christ intended them to. Here we must remember that God will never reveal sin that has been forgiven and is under the blood, He will only reveal unconfessed sin. Is.44v22. Acts.3v19. Heb.8v12.

3. God can reveal people's situation and needs, to comfort them and inspire them to seek, or trust God.

a. It can reveal a seeking heart and its need.

Ananias had the revelation of Paul's conversion, blindness and earnest praying, and the address where Paul was staying, and so he was able to help Paul. Peter had the revelation of Cornelius and his friends earnest seeking after God, and an angel gave Cornelius the name and address of Peter and told Cornelius to seek Peter's help in finding God. Acts.10v1-48.

b. It can greatly encourage discouraged saints.

Elijah was told of 7,000 more who had stood true to God like himself. 1Kings 19v14-18. The women were told of their risen Christ. Mt.28v6. Paul was told that the Lord had many people in wicked Corinth who wanted God, without this word of knowledge Paul might have felt the position hopeless and moved on, as it was he won a great victory for his Lord. Acts.18v6-11. Josiah and Cyrus had their names revealed, and their works, over two hundred years before they were born, and it greatly encouraged them and the people of God to fulfil God's will.1Kings13v2. 2Kings.21v24-23v25. Is.45v1-4.

c. It can reveal a broken heart and wounded spirit.

Some people need a healing of their memories, they have had great wounds in the past that have crippled them, and sometimes these wounds have made them physically ill, and they need Jesus to heal their wounded soul before they can be healed or feel the joy and blessing of God. Others have great problems and troubles of the present on their minds and need help with these. These wounds can be the wounds of sin as in the case of the woman of Samaria, but whatever the cause, Christ has come to heal the broken in heart, and the writer has seen Christ reveal peoples needs and meet them in a wonderful way. Is.61v1-3. Lk.4v18,19. Jn.4v16-19,29. This is one of the most demanding but also one of the most precious uses of this lovely gift of the Holy Spirit.

d. It can reveal a sickness to inspire faith for healing or salvation.

Many people need a revelation from God to inspire their faith as Christ said in Jn.4v46-53. N.B. v48. The writer has seen people saved and healed because they have seen or experienced a revelation from God through another. Christ revealed to Nathanael the facts about him sitting under a fig tree to inspire faith, and it did so, He can inspire people's faith in the same way today. Jn.1v48,49. Lk.13v12-16. The supernatural revelation of a person's sickness can greatly help their faith and often causes them to receive their healing, and causes many to accept Christ

Sometimes a revelation can reveal the cause of a sickness, or reveal the thing that is a hindrance to healing. Some people are ill because of the way that they have treated their wives or children, we should not forget Mt.18v5-7., others are full of a bitter spirit of unforgiveness. v35. God wants to save us and deliver us from the sin that ruins our lives and health.

4. God can confirm a person's call to His work through the word of knowledge.

God can reveal to us a trustworthy and beautiful soul who will help us in God's work, as he did in the case of Nathanael, Andrew, Peter and John. Jn.1v37,40-42,46-51. Christ doubtless chose his twelve disciples by revelation through the word of knowledge and word of wisdom. Lk.6v12-16. Samuel confirmed his prophecy of God's call to Saul by a complicated word of knowledge. 1Sam.9v19. 10v1-16. Paul had his experience and call to God's work confirmed by Ananias who told him of his vision of Christ by a word of knowledge. Acts.9v17-25. 13v2.

5. God can reveal a real need for prayer through this gift.

This gift can greatly help the prayer warrior. Christ prayed earnestly for Peter and Peter came through in spite of his sin and failure. Mk.14v27-31,37,38,50. Paul was full of love for the Christians under his care, so God often showed him needs for prayer and the state of the churches by word of knowledge. This enabled Paul to minister to peoples needs though separated by great distance from them. Col.2v5. 1Cor.5v3. The apostle John also had the same experience in Rev.2 & 3.. Some prayer warriors have brought victory to churches and people again and again, they have received no well done from men, but what a reward and well done they will receive from the Lord Jesus. Many little old ladies in bonnets, and young ones too, have prayed through at great cost to themselves, out of pure love for others in real need, and they will receive a far greater reward than many eloquent loveless preachers. Mt.19v27-30. This is a precious ministry don't miss it whatever you do.

6. Through this gift God can reveal how material needs in His work can be met.

Christ guided His disciples by word of knowledge to the place where they would hold the Passover feast, God can reveal to us a place where Christians can meet. Mk.14v12-16. Christ told Peter how their financial needs could be met, a coin in the mouth of a fish. Mt.17v24,25. It also provided the means of transport that Scripture said the Christ would use to come into Jerusalem. Zech.9v9. with Mk.11v1-7. It also helped Saul when he lost his father's asses, and helped David to recover the property that had been stolen, and the people that had been taken captive by the Amalekites. 1Sam.10v1-8. 30v1-8,18,19.

7. God can deliver the Church from false prophecy, etc., by means of this gift.

The Holy Spirit can confirm that a person's interpretation or prophecy are "soulish" and in hope, and not inspired of the Holy Spirit. Jeremiah was aware that the false prophets had no anointing, and there was no witness within his heart to their prophecies, the Holy Spirit confirmed that their prophecies were out of their minds and brought about by their strong desires. Jer.23v16. Ezek.13v2. In 2Chron.18v1-34. 1Kings.22v1-40., we see a telling contrast between the prophets who wanted to gain favour by telling lies and the man of God who told the truth at any cost. We are also told that on this occasion the false prophets were helped by a lying spirit. v20,21.

8. This gift has an important place as a sign and wonder.

This gift is often used in Scripture in conjunction with words of wisdom and the discerning of spirits, in the declaration of God's purposes and the manifestation of vital spiritual truths and realities. It was an important part of the Old Testament prophet's armoury and often confirmed their message, and it can confirm the Gospel message. It can have a definite place as a sign and wonder, the revelation by a word of knowledge of Nebuchadnezzar's dream had the most tremendous effect on the Babylonian kingdom, and the revelation of the heart and sin of the woman of Samaria moved the Samaritans to God. Dan.2v21-26. Jn.4v28-42. A word of knowledge from God's all-knowledge can make all the difference between defeat and victory, and even if the revealed knowledge is only a small thing like a coin in a fishes mouth, or a person sitting under a fig tree, it can bring real blessing and meet very real needs. The Church universal needs this mighty weapon from Christ's armoury, and the Christian needs it in their daily life, home life, business and work life, as well as in evangelism, it brings a tremendous sense of the presence and care of God, and greatly glorifies the Lord Jesus.


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