"For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit..."
1 Corinthians 12:8-9
What is a word of knowledge? It is a shorter prophetic revelation that reveals external knowledge from God, usually given to uplift someone else. There are a few characteristics that separate the word of knowledge from prophecy or the gift of wisdom. Below are a few of them:
1) Gives insight, a supernatural knowing, into the lives of another that could not be obtained naturally
The Lord might impress to a pastor that a lady in the church has had lower back pain for three years. Sometimes, a word of knowledge may not be given for a specific individual, but rather apply to a whole group of people. In other words, the pastor in that church may not know who has back pain, only that they are in need of healing. If more knowledge is necessary, then God will give it.
2) Often reveals details needed for healing--physical, spiritual, or mental details
The example about revealed need for a physical healing. But it may just be shown that a person is suffering from depression that God wants to heal. Or, that a person has been hurt by their sister. God reveals negative things so that we can pray for healing. We can exhort, encourage, and speak in the positive, and not the negative. The power of life and death are in the tongue (Proverbs 18:21).
3) Comes by the insight God gives, usually by a shorter phrase, or even just one word
We have the mind of Christ, and if we are abiding in it, then we can hear more easily what God is saying. The Lord may speak, or impress through our thoughts, a sentence, or phrase, or word, that gives needed information about the condition of another. I may hear, "he has lower back pain and leg weakness", when I look at Or, I may just strongly feel that this is the case. The word of knowledge doesn't even have to be a word, as described in these next two points...
4) May come as a mental picture or vision
When praying for a lady downtown, I may see a picture of her knee with emotional chains being wrapped around it. The Lord is 'speaking' that she has a knee injury rooted in emotional pain. Once again, God may reveal the sad truth so that we can pray into His will instead. We don't have to accept those chains; instead, the Lord reveals them so that they can be broken off in the name of Jesus.
5) May come as a pain in your body.
This is another way that the Lord can speak without using words. For example, in my own walk, I sometimes get a pain in my right ear if I need to pay attention and 'listen!'. More often, a physical pain or sensation can be "picked up" from someone else if God is wanting to heal them. Last time Vanessa and I did ministry downtown, she picked up the left foot pain of a young guy playing basketball, and God healed him completely. Any word of knowledge, especially this type, is so effective in identifying a problem, that we can then target in prayer. Through Him laying on pain, through God sharing with us another's burdens, we can accomplish His will. This kind of word of knowledge also has the benefit of increasing our own compassion for others. If you can feel the headache of another person, then you will probably feel more love for that person, too. Since God is Love (1 John 4:8), then you can better share Him with another!
6) Are usually applicable right away, but may be fulfilled later
Usually a word of knowledge is true in the very moment it is given. You might see a person, and bam, God reveals their spiritual condition right now. It is not usually prophetic in that it speaks of a future time. But sometimes, this isn't the case. Prior to going into Wal-Mart, the Lord may reveal that a lady in the store wearing pink and purple needs prayer. More often, though--at least for me--a word of knowledge is given and meant to be applied within minutes of it's giving. It's a now word.
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It's so important to be motivated by Love, and so important to be moved with compassion. The word of knowledge is such a gift, but it's only a means to an end. It only reveals to us an otherwise unknowable piece of God's heart, so if we do not use this gift with love, then it is worth nothing (1 Corinthians 13:2). What counts is not faith or gifts in themselves. Faith expressing itself through miracles or wonders is not that important. The most important thing to obtain, to receive, from God is His Love for people. That's how we know how we are His. Words of knowledge and other things are only means of expression. They need to be used as faith expressing itself through love (Galatians 5:6).
1 Corinthians 12:8-9
What is a word of knowledge? It is a shorter prophetic revelation that reveals external knowledge from God, usually given to uplift someone else. There are a few characteristics that separate the word of knowledge from prophecy or the gift of wisdom. Below are a few of them:
1) Gives insight, a supernatural knowing, into the lives of another that could not be obtained naturally
The Lord might impress to a pastor that a lady in the church has had lower back pain for three years. Sometimes, a word of knowledge may not be given for a specific individual, but rather apply to a whole group of people. In other words, the pastor in that church may not know who has back pain, only that they are in need of healing. If more knowledge is necessary, then God will give it.
2) Often reveals details needed for healing--physical, spiritual, or mental details
The example about revealed need for a physical healing. But it may just be shown that a person is suffering from depression that God wants to heal. Or, that a person has been hurt by their sister. God reveals negative things so that we can pray for healing. We can exhort, encourage, and speak in the positive, and not the negative. The power of life and death are in the tongue (Proverbs 18:21).
3) Comes by the insight God gives, usually by a shorter phrase, or even just one word
We have the mind of Christ, and if we are abiding in it, then we can hear more easily what God is saying. The Lord may speak, or impress through our thoughts, a sentence, or phrase, or word, that gives needed information about the condition of another. I may hear, "he has lower back pain and leg weakness", when I look at Or, I may just strongly feel that this is the case. The word of knowledge doesn't even have to be a word, as described in these next two points...
4) May come as a mental picture or vision
When praying for a lady downtown, I may see a picture of her knee with emotional chains being wrapped around it. The Lord is 'speaking' that she has a knee injury rooted in emotional pain. Once again, God may reveal the sad truth so that we can pray into His will instead. We don't have to accept those chains; instead, the Lord reveals them so that they can be broken off in the name of Jesus.
5) May come as a pain in your body.
This is another way that the Lord can speak without using words. For example, in my own walk, I sometimes get a pain in my right ear if I need to pay attention and 'listen!'. More often, a physical pain or sensation can be "picked up" from someone else if God is wanting to heal them. Last time Vanessa and I did ministry downtown, she picked up the left foot pain of a young guy playing basketball, and God healed him completely. Any word of knowledge, especially this type, is so effective in identifying a problem, that we can then target in prayer. Through Him laying on pain, through God sharing with us another's burdens, we can accomplish His will. This kind of word of knowledge also has the benefit of increasing our own compassion for others. If you can feel the headache of another person, then you will probably feel more love for that person, too. Since God is Love (1 John 4:8), then you can better share Him with another!
6) Are usually applicable right away, but may be fulfilled later
Usually a word of knowledge is true in the very moment it is given. You might see a person, and bam, God reveals their spiritual condition right now. It is not usually prophetic in that it speaks of a future time. But sometimes, this isn't the case. Prior to going into Wal-Mart, the Lord may reveal that a lady in the store wearing pink and purple needs prayer. More often, though--at least for me--a word of knowledge is given and meant to be applied within minutes of it's giving. It's a now word.
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It's so important to be motivated by Love, and so important to be moved with compassion. The word of knowledge is such a gift, but it's only a means to an end. It only reveals to us an otherwise unknowable piece of God's heart, so if we do not use this gift with love, then it is worth nothing (1 Corinthians 13:2). What counts is not faith or gifts in themselves. Faith expressing itself through miracles or wonders is not that important. The most important thing to obtain, to receive, from God is His Love for people. That's how we know how we are His. Words of knowledge and other things are only means of expression. They need to be used as faith expressing itself through love (Galatians 5:6).
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