Word of Wisdom / Word of Knowledge - notes

The Gifts of the Spirit

Word of Wisdom / Word of Knowledge

 

I Corinthians 12:1 NKJV

¹ Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant:

 

The Biblical definition of ignorance is the lack of spiritual knowledge or understanding of God’s will, often a consequence of sin, leading to spiritual blindness.

 

Now the reason for the Gifts of the Spirits is NEVER to exalt the person or even the church.

 

The purpose of Spiritual Gifts is to confirm the Gospel.

 

 

The three categories of Gifts

Power Gifts	Gifts of Healing, Working of Miracles, Faith	Gifts that do something
Mind Gifts	Word of Wisdom, Word Knowledge, Discerning of Spirits	Gifts that think something
Vocal Gifts	Diverse Tongues, Interpretation of tongues, and Prophecy	Gifts that say something

 

 

 

 

Today we are going to go into the Spiritual Gifts of Word of Wisdom and Word of Knowledge.

1 Corinthians 12:8

⁸ for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, 

 

 

Wisdom and knowledge are almost interchangeable in the Bible. But generally, knowledge is awareness of facts and wisdom is awareness of how to use those facts for good goals.

 

If the Word of Knowledge reveals what is, the Word of Wisdom reveals what to do about it, offering solutions and directions.

 

The Word of Wisdom provides supernatural insight and guidance, offering Divine solutions for present or future situations. It goes beyond knowledge (knowing facts) to reveal God’s purpose and the right action to take in any given situation.

 

So with that said, we should establish that God is WISDOM…

We do not simply mean that He knows more than we do, and thus, like some long-in-the-tooth counselor, wizened by his years. He is able to give good advice from a storehouse of His many wrong turns and foolish mistakes.

 

The statement "God is wisdom" means that God is the ultimate, perfect, and inexhaustible source of all wisdom. This divine wisdom is not something God acquires, but rather a part of His very nature, encompassing all knowledge, understanding, and the ability to perfectly plan and carry out all things.

 

Romans 16:27 NLT

All glory to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, forever, Amen.

 

 

ATTRIBUTES OF GOD’S WISDOM

•  All-encompassing: 

God's wisdom includes all knowledge and understanding of everything that exists, has existed, or will exist. He knows the end from the beginning and is never puzzled or confused. 

• Perfectly applied: 

Divine wisdom is the ability to use perfect knowledge to achieve righteous goals. God's wisdom is on display in His creation, which has a rational, moral, and aesthetic structure. 

• Distinct from worldly wisdom: 

God's wisdom is considered superior to human wisdom, which can be arrogant or selfish. The gospel message of the cross is seen as an example of divine wisdom that appears foolish to the world. 

• Revealed through action: 

The wisdom of God is not just a concept but is demonstrated through His actions, such as creating the world, guiding history, and providing a plan for salvation. 

 

Romans 11:33-36 New King James Version

³³ Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!

³⁴ “For who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has become His counselor?”
³⁵ “Or who has first given to Him
And it shall be repaid to him?”

³⁶ For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.

 

 

Let’s look at James…

 

James 3:13-17 NLT

 

¹³ If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom.

 

Two Types of Wisdom

 

 

¹⁴ But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying. ¹⁵ For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. ¹⁶ For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.

 

 

So, we see that there is wisdom from beneath or earthly, unspiritual, and demonic…

And then we have Wisdom from Above

 

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.

 

         Making wise and good decisions for God’s glory.

Wisdom from above – 1 Kings 3 – Solomon and the two mothers.

 

 

True wisdom draws from knowledge, understanding, experiences, and common sense through the Holy Spirit.

 

Three Common Questions:

         Is wisdom a natural gift (an ability to make good decisions)?

It can be; however, sinners in business make millions on good decisions.

         Is wisdom deep insight into Scriptures?

It can be; if this is the case, however, then why are there so many interpretations if every teacher has the same gift?

         Is the ability to speak wisely in preaching or counseling others?

Partially! But many who don’t claim the Spirit operate in using wise counsel (including unbelievers).

 

The Gift of the Word of Wisdom

 

Biblical definition: A supernatural revelation given to the mind concerning God’s will and plan at any given moment.           

         Not just spiritual matters, but also practical matters in life.

Genesis 41—Joseph’s plan to store food for 7 years then sell during the famine.

Matthew 17:27—Christ telling Peter to go fish (a coin in the fish’s mouth)

Luke 2:47—Jesus operated in wisdom at age 12 and confounded the leaders.

 

 

We should seek after wisdom

         James 1:4-8

⁴ But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. ⁵ If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. ⁶ But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. ⁷ For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; ⁸ he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

 

 

Above all, seek wisdom, as this is the first of the 9 Gifts of the Spirit.

 

WORD OF KNOWLEDGE

 

The Word of Knowledge is a spiritual gift where the Holy Spirit gives supernatural insight or specific information about a person, situation, or hidden matter that couldn’t be known naturally. It is used for encouragement, conviction, healing, or building up the church.

 

The knowledge comes directly from God, not acquired through study or human intellect.

 

Mankind is notorious for believing that he has everything figured. He believes, and has believed through the centuries, that his knowledge is sufficient to give him everything he needs to know and to lack nothing. Because of these beliefs many men have gone through life believing there is no need for God. They believe they have the ability to work things out for themselves, and therefore God is simply a burdensome tale propagated by weak people who do not have the courage to take care of themselves.

The Bible says it like this:

1 Corinthians 8:1 New King James Version

¹ Now concerning things offered to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies.

NLT

Now regarding your question about food that has been offered to idols. Yes, we know that “we all have knowledge” about this issue. But while knowledge makes us feel important, it is love that strengthens the church.

 

KEY DIFFERENCES

 

Source	Divine & Spiritual; comes through revelation and relationship with God.	Physical and earthly; gathered through experience and human reason.
Nature	Infinite, eternal, and all-encompassing.	Finite, limited, and often incomplete or biased.
Wisdom	Pure, peaceful, merciful, and sincere; aligns with God’s will.	Can be deceptive and worldly; may lack righteousness.
Foundation	Based upon God’s character and revealed truth.	Can be based on human wisdom or worldly systems, which are considered foolish by God.

 

The greatest problem man faces is the desire to apply his/her own knowledge/ feelings/ experiences to their decisions and not seek wisdom from an outside source: the WORD of God.

 

Knowledge can be dangerous if it without a relationship with God.

 

1 Corinthians 1:25 New King James Version

²⁵ Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

 

Proverbs 1:7

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,
But fools despise wisdom and instruction.

 

Proverbs 8:10

¹⁰ Receive my instruction, and not silver,
And knowledge rather than choice gold;

 

True knowledge is valuable, but it must be guided by wisdom, understanding, and God’s will.

 

 

THE PURPOSE OF THE WORD OF KNOWLEDGE

 

TO REVEAL SECRETS AS A SIGN TO AN UNBELIEVER.

         1 Corinthians 14:25

²⁵ As they listen, their secret thoughts will be exposed, and they will fall to their knees and worship God, declaring, “God is truly here among you.”

 

TO WARN OF A COMING JUDGEMENT

        

Amos 3:7

⁷ Indeed, the Sovereign Lord never does anything
    until he reveals his plans to his servants the prophets.

 

         Matthew 23:36

³⁶ I tell you the truth, this judgment will fall on this very generation.

 

         The reasons:

                  To visit in mercy before judgement.

                  To give space to repent before judgement

                  To rescue the righteous out of the judgement cycle.

 

TO EXPOSE A DANGEROUS SIN

Joshua was given a word God would be with him wherever he went.

Joshua took Jericho, and the second city was a small city called Ai.

Israel was defeated and soldiers died (none died at Jericho)

Joshus was angry at God, but God gave a word of knowledge that someone was in disobedience.

Israel was to place all possessions into the treasury of the Lord.

Achan secretly withheld precious metals and garments, and God stopped the blessing.

 

TO WARN OF SATANIC SETUPS.

The Holy Spirit knows the plans of Satan and can prevent them from occurring through a word of knowledge

 

It requires wisdom to know when, where, and how to release a word of knowledge..

 

I want to share with you the prayers that I will be praying this week during my fast.

 

NUMBERS 24:15-16 NLT

Father, in the Name of Jesus, I thank You that my natural and spiritual eyes see clearly. I thank You for giving me the ability to hear the written Word of God. I thank you that I have knowledge from the Most High, see visions of the Almighty, and have a heart to bow to You with eyes wide open.

 

EPHESIANS 1:17-19

Father, in the Name of Jesus, give me spiritual wisdom and insight so that I may grow in the knowledge of God. I pray that my heart will be flooded with light so that I can understand the confident hope You have given me. I also pray that I will understand the incredible greatness of Your power.

 

Ephesians 3:16-19

I pray that I would be strengthened with power by Your Spirit in the inner man; that Christ may dwell in my heart by faith; that being rooted and grounded in love, I may be able to comprehend its breadth, length, depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ which is beyond natural knowledge and that I might be filled with all the fullness of God.

 

PHILIPPIANS 1:9-11

I pray that my love will overflow more and more, and that I will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. I desire to understand what really matters, so that I may live in a pure and blameless life until the day of Christ’s return.

May I always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in my life by Jesus Christ—for this will bring much glory and praise to God.

 

COLOSSIANS 1:9-11

Father, I ask that you would give me complete knowledge of your will for my life, then the way I live will always honor and please you and my life will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, I will grow as I learn to know you better and better. I also pray that I will be strengthened with all Your glorious power so I will have the endurance and patience that I need.