Revelation Gifts – Don’t Be Ignorant About Spiritual Gifts – part two
Revelation Gifts – Don’t Be Ignorant
This is the second of our four-part series – “Don’t Be Ignorant about Spiritual Gifts”. There are 9 spiritual or charismatic gifts listed in 1 Corinthians 12. To help better explain and understand each gift we are putting them in 3 categories: Revelation Gifts, Power Gifts, and Vocal Gifts. We will cover each category in separate lessons. Today we will teach on the Revelation Gifts.
Review
First let’s do a short review. Last time we explained how these gifts are given by the Holy Spirit only as He wills and when He wills. No one can decide or determine on their own when any of these gifts will be used. Yet, these gifts are available to all Believers, but distributed by the Holy Spirit according to His will. The purpose of the Spirit’s manifestations of these gifts is to benefit the Body of Christ.
Because of a lack of understanding (ignorance), many people try to operate a gift without the Spirit. This then becomes at best a work of the soulish realm and at worst a work of the flesh. This is why it is important we be not ignorant about the spiritual gifts and how they work. (click here to read part one)
The Revelation Gifts
This time we are teaching about the 3 Revelation gifts which are – 1) the word of wisdom, word of knowledge, and discerning of spirits. These gifts reveal what is unknown or hidden in order to bring understanding or explain God’s intentions or desires. So, let’s begin.
1. Word of Wisdom
First, understand this is not talking about natural wisdom or having the ability to make wise decisions. We do need wisdom to make wise choices in life and God has promised to give us that kind of wisdom. James 1:5 tells us: “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously…”.
Word of Wisdom is Future
The Gift of the Word of Wisdom is a special gift in which God by the Holy Spirit imparts a certain fact (a word) about the future as it relates to the divine plan and purpose of God. God has all wisdom and all knowledge. He knows the beginning from the end. In special situations He will, through the Holy Spirit, give a word of wisdom to someone to help warn, prepare, assist, or guide us (His church) in order to help ensure that His plan is and will be fulfilled. Sometimes the word of wisdom will be conditional. In other words, the word given may or may not come to pass if certain conditions are met or not met.
Notice it is a “word” not a sentence or paragraph or book. This gift usually only reveals in part not in totality. It does not usually deal with an individual’s situation or future apart from their purpose as it relates to the church. The word of wisdom usually is about the churches mission, health, purpose, welfare, etc. Remember the purpose of the Spirit’s manifestations of the gifts is to benefit the Body of Christ.
Many Examples in the Bible
There are many examples of the word of wisdom throughout the Bible; Ananias in Acts 9, Philip in Acts 8, Noah in Genesis 6, Joseph in Genesis 37-50, Agabus in Acts 21, Paul in Acts 27, Peter in Acts 9, and many more.
2. Word of Knowledge
Just like the Word of Wisdom isn’t about natural wisdom the Word of Knowledge is not about gaining a greater understanding of natural things. It is not knowledge gained through study or learning more about God or the Bible. The word of knowledge is the supernatural revelation by the Holy Spirit of certain facts in the mind of God.
Word of Knowledge is Present or Past
God knows everything, but He won’t reveal everything He knows. However, He will give us a word, a small fragment of what He knows, just enough to help us. The Word of Knowledge is a supernatural revelation of some current or past situation in which the person would have no way of knowing in the natural. Again, while this “word of knowledge” may benefit the individual in some way it will always have a larger purpose as it relates to the body of Christ and the mission of the Church.
There are many examples in the Bible of the Word of Knowledge; Samuel in 1 Samuel 9, Elijah in 1Kings 19, Elisha in 2 Kings 5, Jesus in John 5, Peter Acts 5, and many more. Often the Word of Wisdom and Word of Knowledge work together. Several of the Word of Wisdom examples also have the Word of Knowledge in operation.
Remember, the revelation that the word of knowledge brings is never future tense — it’s present or past tense. The word of wisdom, on the other hand, reveals plans and purposes concerning the future.
3. Discerning of Spirits
The discerning of spirits is having supernatural insight into the spirit realm. This gift momentarily gives a person the ability to see or hear into the spirit world. This is not the gift of discernment and it is not about discerning the character or faults of a person. Discerning of spirits has nothing to do with discerning people. It is called the discerning of spirits because it deals with spirits that exist in the spirit realm – angelic, satanic, or human.
It is not just the “discerning of devils” but also it the discernment of good spirits too. The discerning of evil spirits is included, but too many people have thought discerning of evil spirits is all this gift refers to, and so they have been misled. Discerning of spirits is not a kind of spiritual “mind reading” or some kind of psychological insight. This is a supernatural gift.
Supernatural Insight into the Spiritual Realm
The realm of the spirit is very real. Although we are unable to see it with our natural senses God has provided the gift of discerning of spirits. This gift gives supernatural insight into this spiritual realm, as the Spirit wills.
There are many examples of the discerning of spirits throughout the Bible; Moses in Ex. 33:20-23, Isaiah in Is. 6:1, Paul in Acts 16:1-18, Jesus in Luke 11:14, Elisha’s servant in 2Kings 6:15-17, and many more.
Next time we will cover the Power Gifts which are the gift of faith, the gifts of healings, and the working of miracles.
