Have you ever longed for insight beyond the visible, yearning to know the hidden truths of someone or something? Perhaps you’ve experienced a sudden flash of understanding, a knowing that defies earthly reasoning. This, my friends, is the power of the Word of Knowledge as mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12:8. This is a type of revelation gift, similar to the Word of Wisdom and Discernment of Spirits, but with the unique ability to supernaturally reveal information about past and present events about people, and situations. This profound knowledge is what gives the gift its name. It’s important to note that the Word of Knowledge is not acquired through long-term learning but rather an impartation of knowledge from God. It’s also not the same as God’s omniscience, which means that it doesn’t provide all-knowing abilities. As stated in 1 Corinthians 13, we only see and prophesy in part. So, what exactly does the Word of Knowledge reveal? It can provide general information about people, places, things, and more. For example, it can reveal someone’s name, age, date of birth, address, profession, hometown, medical conditions, etc.
Importance of Word of Knowledge
Let’s explore why the Word of Knowledge is important to us. Here are some reasons:
1. A Catalyst for Repentance: In 1 Corinthians 14:24-25, it is said that if there is an unbeliever among us and a Word of Prophecy is given, it will convict the person of sin because the secrets of their heart will be revealed. In the case of marketplace evangelism, if an unbeliever is met and the Word of Knowledge is in operation, it will alert the person that there is a supernatural power working. This will make them curious and want to know more about this power. This is what happened in the days of Jesus Christ when he met the Samaritan woman at the well. As soon as Jesus Christ gave her the Word of Knowledge about her past husbands, the woman became more alert and realized that Jesus Christ was a prophet. She got to know that he was also the Messiah and quickly ran to the city to bring other people to meet Jesus Christ.
2. Building Faith in Healing: In healing ministry, when the man of God comes before a sick person and calls the person by name, then gives a Word of Knowledge to the person about his/her condition, one becomes hopeful that God is able to heal. This is because, God was able to reveal such details about them. William Marrion Branham, who is now late, walked so much in the Word of Knowledge to build up the faith of the people before praying for them for a miracle.
3. Unveiling Root Causes: When people have problems, many times there is a cause for that particular problem. There are many sicknesses that are caused by sin, especially unforgiveness or something the person has done to hurt somebody that led to the one cursing him or her resulting in illness. In such situations, God will want the person to confess and repent before he ministers healing to that particular person. Many people stand to pray for others and they try the name of Jesus several times, but nothing happens because there is something blocking the healing from taking place. If the Word of Knowledge is in operation, it will be revealed that this person needs to confess before healing is ministered to him or her.
I want to say here that the Word of Knowledge can be misused to disgrace somebody because you feel like details of the person are being revealed to you. But this gift should not be used to scatter people from God, but to bring them closer to Him. Wisdom is needed when operating in this gift.
How is Word of Knowledge Received?
The gift of Word of knowledge is bestowed by the Holy Spirit to whomever He chooses, without any regard for physical qualifications such as age or years spent serving God. It is a gift of grace for the glory of God, and cannot be earned by any human effort. While you may ask for it, the decision to give or withhold the gift ultimately lies with God. However, not having the gift of Word of knowledge does not mean that you are completely cut off from the knowledge of God. As a child of God, you have the Holy Spirit within you, who is all-knowing, and you can learn to tap into Him for any knowledge you may be seeking. Therefore, do not become overly preoccupied with the gift if you do not possess it yet. The gift of Word of knowledge may provide a faster start, but growing into the knowledge of God through tapping into the Holy Spirit may take some time.
The Operation of Word of Knowledge
The gift of Word of Knowledge works hand in hand with our spiritual senses, and it operates differently for each individual, resulting in a wide range of variations in how it works. Below are some key ways in which Word of Knowledge can manifest:
1. Sight: This can take the form of open visions where a person sees things clearly in the spirit with physical eyes wide open, inner visions where images appear on the screen of their imagination, trances where they experience revelations in the state between sleep and being awake, or dreams where they receive visions or revelations while sleeping.
2. Hearing: Word of Knowledge can come as an audible voice that a person hears with their spiritual ears, or as a voice they hear in their head as if hearing it audibly or in the heart.
3. Smell: This gift can manifest as a spiritual sense of smell, where a person smells things in the spirit with their spiritual nose.
4. Taste: Word of Knowledge can also be experienced as a taste in the spirit, which can range from bitter to sweet or other flavours.
5. Touch: This gift can manifest as a spiritual sense of touch, where a person feels things in the spirit. In a healing ministry, for example, a person may suddenly experience pain in the arm, which could be an indication from God that the person receiving ministration might have pain in the arm.
6. Knowing: Word of Knowledge can also be experienced as a sense of knowing, where a person simply knows things about people or situations.
It is important to note that when it comes to Word of Knowledge, one should avoid limiting themselves and remain open-minded. God can use anything to communicate a message or give a word of knowledge. For instance, you may stand in front of someone and suddenly see the face of a friend from many years ago. This could be an indication from God that the friend’s name or condition is relevant to the person in front of you. Additionally, God may use birds to communicate with you, or even a simple experience like accidentally stepping on someone’s foot could be a sign that God is trying to communicate with you. Through such experiences, God may be urging you to minister to the person about unforgiveness or some other issue. Therefore, it is crucial to remain open-minded and receptive to the different ways in which God may choose to communicate through Word of Knowledge. It could be something as simple as an inscription on a passing car that catches your attention and provides insight into a person or situation. So, keep an open mind and be receptive to the varied ways in which Word of Knowledge may manifest.
Word of Knowledge Activation
Find a peaceful spot where you won’t be disturbed. Focus your attention on Jesus and ask Him to reveal a word of knowledge to you. As you quiet and listen for His voice, be open to whatever He may reveal to you. Remember that God speaks in many different ways, so be attentive and receptive to how He chooses to communicate with you.
During this exercise, you may find yourself experiencing any of these categories. To keep track of your experiences and insights, it is recommended that you journal. Record whatever comes to you in any way without imposing a need for accuracy. It is important to remember that we learn by making mistakes, and there is no right or wrong way to receive Word of Knowledge. What you receive is what you receive, and that is always valid.
Gain a comprehensive knowledge of spiritual gifts by checking out the book "UNDERSTANDING THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT". You can obtain a copy by clicking on the provided link.
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