S. Michael Houdmann Supporter Got Questions Ministries

There are three spiritual gifts lists in Scripture (Romans 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11; and 1 Corinthians 12:28), but only one of them mentions the gifts referred to as the word of wisdom and the...

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July 01 2013 • 6 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

ainsley chalmers Supporter Medical Research Scientist, devoted family man.

I just want to give a practical example of the word of knowledge.When I was a 3 month old Christian a mother asked me to pray for her 21 yr old son who had been on drugs and had driven away with a loaded rifle to shoot himself. We prayed and he somehow returned home, very distressed. 

I spoke with him of my own recent conversion and the words just flowed with wisdom foreign to me. Anyway that Sunday evening we went to a Pentecostal service at a school hall. I had heard of miracles there but hadn't been to any of their services (I was Catholic). There were about 600 in attendance and no one knew us as we sat in the back row corner.

There was praise and worship singing initially. The minister then came to the podium and immediately described this lad to a tee re his drugs and suicidal thoughts. He asked the lad to raise his arm and his was the only raised arm. We both went to the front for this lad to receive prayer and accept Christ as Lord and Savior. The power of God was so strong that I was thrown to the ground in tears and this lad was immediately released from drugs and suicide. He is alive and well 40 plus years down the track. 

This was a powerful example of genuine word of knowledge,all praise to God Almighty. I have met many Christians over the years who hear from the Lord continuously but have come to realize over time that they are using God's name in vain to gain control over others. So beware of these. But there is a genuine word of knowledge and I have experienced it first hand.

December 12 2019 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Myron Robertson Supporter Seeking God's heart

The church over the millennia has done much to limit the meaning of "Every word that proceeds from the mouth of God," (Deut 8:3 quoted by Jesus in Matt 4:4.) I have written more detailed proof of the full meaning of this other places, so will only mention that here, but because of what has been said in previous answers I need this truth to be at the fore before I write my answer. God's truth is found in every word he speaks, not all those words are scripture and we are to live by all of them, no matter how he chooses to reveal them.

There are two different classification systems used by educational psychologists to classify human learning and understanding in the cognitive realm. The older of these is Bloom's Taxonomy which was well known when I was taking my education courses. The other was being developed at that time, was not included in my education and I only became aware of it in 2002. Both of these list a hierarchy of steps to understanding; Bloom's lists 6 steps and the other is in 5 steps.

In both of these hierarchies knowledge is the lowest level of understanding. According to both of these hierarchies the definition of knowledge is basically just awareness that something exists; it does not imply that you actually know anything more about that matter. It is the higher levels of these hierarchies that imply a deeper understanding, ending with a full understanding and ability to use that knowledge given at the highest levels of these hierarchies. Although neither one actually defines this as wisdom, that is what it is.

I have always said that the only definitions that really matter are God's. I have not done a detailed scriptural study to determine how God defines knowledge, but it appears to mean something more than it means in these hierarchies, but it clearly stands apart from the definition of wisdom, which by any definition in existence can be summarized as the ability to properly use the knowledge you have (and also to know the limitations of the knowledge you have.)

Isa 11:2, speaking of Jesus, says the spirit of God will be upon him and then lists some of the seven spirits (or characteristics of the seven-fold spirit) of God. Some would say these are three of these spirits with a definition for each, others would say it is six of the seven. Scripture is not clear. Here wisdom is associated with understanding and knowledge with fear. 

This shows a greater level of knowledge is required to meet God's definition than with the definition of hierarchies above. E. g. nuclear power: Many sang it's praises and happily sought its development for both peaceful and military purposes as a cheap form of great power. Only with greater knowledge came the understanding that this must be greatly feared and is horrifically expensive. This fear is a good thing and all too many continue to lack it.

Jesus had these spirits upon him, and when the spirit came down at Pentecost when we were given the earnest (down payment) of the spirit we were given a word or message (not spirit) of wisdom and a word (not not spirit) of knowledge. Paul further implies that the person teaching you the word of knowledge will not be the same person teaching you how to properly use that knowledge. (These gifts are listed in 1 Cor 12:28 as a hierarchy so the less educated will probably be the ones imparting the knowledge and the more educated teach you how to use it.)

What is this word of knowledge? Most will artificially try to limit this word to religious things. It is knowledge of God, but if you truly believe your God to be the creator of the universe and all that is is in it, this word of knowledge is the knowledge of all things. If you are learning anything that is true you are learning knowledge of God. If you are learning how to properly and safely use that knowledge you are learning the wisdom of God.

December 29 2016 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report