Word Of Knowledge
My mom loves to tell the story of when she took my girls, Sarah and Ivey, to a playground when they were little. Someone had thrown the swing seat over the top of the swing set. Mom is short and could not reach it and was upset, ready to give up. Three year old, Ivey, spoke up and said, "let's pray, Honey" and so they did. Almost immediately, Honey found a large stick and was able to get the seat down. Whatever you are going through God wants to help. The Lord's counsel is a prayer away!
I have been studying the word of knowledge which is a spiritual gift listed in 1 Corinthians 12:8. "To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit," The Word of Knowledge is, simply put, the Holy Spirit sending you knowledge on something that you would have no ability or means to be able to know about based on your own intelligence. It is supernatural knowledge and insight given to us by the Holy Spirit. It has nothing to do with us or our smarts!
These words of knowledge that come directly from the Holy Spirit can cover something trivial such as the swing set or something lost such as your car keys or it can be huge - life saving knowledge. I will forever believe that the Holy Spirit was nudging me to make the appointment for my yearly physical. I also believe that when the girl told me three times that she did not have anything for a few months there is a reason we chatted and stayed on the line. That has never happened before or since! All of a sudden, she had the day and hour I needed - someone just cancelled while we were talking! That was the beginning of me finding out I had stage three cancer and had only had it six to eight weeks! I was in a time crunch! God created us to be victorious. He has given us weapons and an army. It is our birthright to be able to see warnings and insight to the enemy.
God gives us words of knowledge that can be specific to Scripture verses - what they mean and how they apply to our life. The Holy Spirit can nudge us who to witness to and can show us how to witness to that person. Look back on your life and you will see where He was at work and maybe gave you words of knowledge. We have a direct line for traps or breakthroughs. We can pray in the offense and defense.
Elisha had the words of knowledge revealed to him by God. This is not a reservoir of knowledge that you can just tap into at any time that you desire it. It is a gift of God. It often comes at unexpected times and many times without us realizing it. I am thankful for all that the Holy Spirit does in my life but I know He wants to do so much more than I can imagine. I want to be more open to be led by the Spirit so He can use me where He desires. God wants us to call on Him. Psalm 145: 18, "The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth." He will equip, comfort and guide us. He wants us to be able to discern His voice.
1 Corinthians 12: 4, "There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them." That is most important for us to know! Paul wanted us to know that God has given us all a gift.
He also tells us that there are different gifts. Those who have the gift of knowledge is not more intelligent than others, they are a channel used by and for God to serve others. There are no small or insignificant gifts.
Proverbs 3: 5-6, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." Our feeble understanding cannot compare to God's wisdom. God can see far beyond anything we can seer or imagine!