Spiritual Gifts Part 5 Word of Knowledge

 

I’m Duane Matz and welcome to Today’s Living Word.

 

We’ve been talking about spiritual gifts spoken of in 1 Cor 12, and as we look at them let us not forget their purpose. They are given to exhibit the presence of the Holy Spirit amongst believers, and are used to profit the Body of Christ. The presence of these supernatural manifestations link individuals and  congregations to the one true God of the Apostles.

 

I think a close examination of these “gifts” will show us that they were evidenced in the ministry of the Apostles, and therefore it should not be strange that they would show up in the church then and dare I say even now!.

 

These gifts are listed for us beginning in verse 8 and the second is “the word of knowledge.” This gift was most evidenced in the incident involving Ananias and Sapphira found in Acts 5.

 

If you recall the story this husband and wife sold a possession and made it look like they gave all the proceeds to the church, but they held some of it back. Ananias laid the gift at the Apostles feet, but instead of getting a pat on the back, Peter bluntly asks Ananias, “Why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself?”

 

How could Peter know of their hypocrisy if the Holy Spirit hadn’t given him this “word of knowledge!” So the word of knowledge is a prompting from the Holy Spirit to take action based on the Spirit’s knowledge of the situation. (That knowledge of course is all encompassing.

 

Another example was Phillip sharing the Gospel with the Ethiopian Eunuch. How did he know to approach the chariot? He knew by the word of knowledge from the Holy Spirit as we read in  Ac 8:29 Then the Spirit said to Philip, "Go near and overtake this chariot."

 

This is a gift that will even today prompt prayer for others at the exact time they need it. It may also prompt benevolence for someone with an undisclosed financial need.  It’s a supernatural prompting from the One who knows all and sees all. Don’t blow these “Words of knowledge” off. The Holy Spirit is letting you in on something that only He is aware of. Partner with Him and act accordingly, for the profit of all!

 

 I’m Duane Matz and that’s Today’s Living Word.