1 Corinthians 2:12 (NKJV) “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.”
A word of knowledge communicates past and present facts or events that cannot be known through our natural senses.
It is revealed by the anointing of the Holy Spirit. Its purpose is to edify, instruct, or correct people.
There are two prevailing views in the church of what a word of knowledge is.
1st view
This first view holds that a word of knowledge is what the Bible teaches us about God, Christ, the Gospel, and its applications to Christian living. This view would be held by non-charismatic Christians who believe the gifts of the Spirit are not for today.
2nd view
A word of knowledge comes directly from God. It is like a laser beam. The Holy Spirit strikes your heart with knowledge from heaven. He does this through dreams, visions, or other supernatural means. It is the God-given, immediate awareness of facts without the aid of the natural senses. It is closely related to a word of wisdom. Many times, they are intertwined.
It is God’s revelation to you of any situation in the past or present that would be impossible for you to know.
It is knowledge that cannot be discovered by normal human senses, such as hearing, seeing, touching, smelling or tasting.
Notice that this gift is called “the word of knowledge.” It is not “the gift of knowledge.” There is no such thing as a spiritual gift of knowledge. There is, however, a spiritual gift, called the word of knowledge. The word of knowledge is the supernatural revelation by the Holy Ghost of certain facts in the mind of God.
God is all-knowing. He knows everything. But He doesn’t reveal everything He knows to man.
He just gives him a word or a part of what He knows. A word is a fragmentary part of a sentence, so a word of knowledge would simply be a fragmentary part of the entire knowledge or counsel of God. God is all-knowing. He has all knowledge. But He doesn’t impart all of His knowledge to us; He imparts a word of knowledge
to us — just what He wants us to know at a given time.
This word of knowledge is a supernatural manifestation as are all of these gifts of the Spirit. The gifts of the Spirit aren’t just manifested in a public assembly, however. The word of knowledge will sometimes manifest through a vision, through a dream,through a message from an angel, or through the gift of prophecy.
None of them are natural gifts; they are all supernatural gifts. Since one of them is
supernatural, they all are supernatural. If one of them were natural, then all of them would be natural.
In his letter to Timothy, who was the pastor of a New Testament church, Paul said, “STUDY to shew thyself approved …” (2 Tim. 2:15). So that kind of knowledge — a profound knowledge of the Bible — comes by studying, but the word of knowledge comes by a supernatural revelation.
Biblical Examples of the Word of Knowledge
Let’s look at some biblical examples of the gift of the word of knowledge in operation in the New Testament.
The Word of Knowledge to John
For instance, on the Isle of Patmos, John was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day and Jesus appeared to him in a vision (Rev. 1:10-20). Here we will learn something about how this word of knowledge will come.
As in this particular instance with John the apostle, the word of knowledge might come through a vision. Jesus revealed to John in a vision the condition of the seven churches in Asia Minor, as recorded in the Book of Revelation.
Although there is a message for us today in this revelation, these seven churches
actually existed at that time in Asia Minor. John, exiled to the Isle of Patmos, couldn’t possibly have known what was going on in these cities or churches, but Jesus revealed to him their spiritual condition. That was a word of knowledge.
Word of Knowledge to Peter about Ananias and Sapphira
Acts Chapter 5 – Ananias and Sapphira
Peter knew Ananias lied to the Holy Spirit. It fits the definition of a word of knowledge.
ACTS 5:1-4
1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession.
2 And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, AND TO KEEP BACK PART OF THE PRICE OF THE LAND?
4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.
The entire transaction was revealed to Peter through a word of knowledge. Ananias’ wife Sapphira came in and the same thing happened. And both of them fell dead the same day.
Then, in verse 9, Peter spoke a word of wisdom to Sapphira.
He said, “Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.”
God revealed to Peter that He was going to do the same thing to Sapphira that He did to Ananias. (Do you see the difference from the word of knowledge,
and how close they can be?)
Jesus has a Word of Knowledge about the Woman at the Well
JOHN 4:7,9,10,13-19,25,26
7 There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water:Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink
9 Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.
10 Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water
13 Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst
again:
14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
15 The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw.
16 Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy husband, and come hither.
17 The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband:
18 FOR THOU HAST HAD FIVE HUSBANDS; AND HE WHOM THOU NOW HAST IS NOT THY HUSBAND: in that saidst thou truly.
19 The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet
25 The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things.
Jesus knew that she had no husband by the word of knowledge. He was able to minister to her and give her an answer that convicted her. This is the same today. The Holy Spirit will use you to tell a person about their problem and enable you to also give them the answer supernaturally.
Peter has a Word of Knowledge about Cornelius’ men
(Acts 10:17-20 NKJV) “Now while Peter wondered within himself what this vision which he had seen meant, behold, the men who had been sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon’s house, and stood before the gate. {18} And they called and asked whether Simon, whose men are seeking surname was Peter, was lodging there. {19} While Peter thought about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are seeking you. {20} Arise therefore, go down and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them.”
Verse 19 is a word of knowledge…three men seeking you. Also verse 20 is a word of knowledge…for I have sent them.
Samuel has a word of knowledge for Saul
Now for an example of the word of knowledge in the Old Testament.
1 Samuel 9:19 is a word of wisdom, in which Samuel tells Saul that he (Samuel) will give Saul a word of knowledge the next day.
(1 SAMUEL 9:3,5,6,15,16,19,20
3 And the asses of Kish Saul’s father were lost. And Kish said to Saul his son, Take now one of the servants with thee, and arise, go seek the asses
5 And when they were come to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant that was with him, Come, and let us return; lest my father leave caring for the asses, and take thought for us.
6 And he said unto him, Behold now, there is in this city a man of God, and he is an honourable man; all that he saith cometh surely to pass: now let us go thither; peradventure he can shew us our way that we should go
15 Now the Lord had told Samuel in his ear a day before Saul came, saying,
16 To morrow about this time I will send thee a man out of the land of Benjamin, and thou shalt anoint him to be captain over my people Israel, that he may save my people out of the hand of the Philistines: for I have looked upon my people, because their cry is come unto me
19 And Samuel answered Saul, and said, I am the seer: go up before me unto the high place; for ye shall eat with me today, and tomorrow I will let thee go, and will tell thee all that is in thine heart.
20 AND AS FOR THINE ASSES THAT WERE LOST THREE DAYS AGO, SET NOT THY MIND ON THEM; FOR THEY ARE FOUND. And on whom is all the desire of Israel? Is it not on thee, and on all thy father’s house?
Verse 20 is a word of knowledge that Samuel gives Saul, telling him that the
donkeys had been found.
The Word of Knowledge to Elijah
Then we see that the word of knowledge was manifested to enlighten and to encourage a discouraged servant.
Elijah had a great time up on the mountaintop when he prayed the fire down from heaven (1Kings 18:37,38). But when someone told him, “Queen Jezebel said that about this time tomorrow she is going to take your head off your shoulders” (1 Kings 19:2), Elijah became worried and fearful.
He climbed under a Juniper tree and begged God to let him die. Later he said to God, “… I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away” (1 Kings 19:14).
In other words, Elijah was saying, “Everyone is backslidden but me. Everyone has bowed their knee to Baal, and I am the only one left.”
But God gave Elijah a word of knowledge that encouraged and enlightened him.
God said, “No, you aren’t the only one left. I have seven thousand people reserved to Myself’ (1 Kings 19:18).
Elijah couldn’t have known that any other way. I am sure it encouraged him to know that he wasn’t the only one left; that God had seven thousand who hadn’t bowed their knees to Baal.
The Word of Knowledge To Elijah Regarding Gehazi
The word of knowledge was also used in the Old Testament to expose a hypocrite.
When Naaman was healed of leprosy and wanted to give the prophet Elisha changes of raiment and silver and gold, Elisha refused it. But his servant Gehazi ran after Naaman and lied to him.
2 Kings 5:21-24
21 So Gehazi followed after Naaman. And when Naaman saw him running after him, he lighted down from the chariot to meet him, and said, Is all well?
22 And he said, All is well. My master hath sent me, saying, Behold, even now there be come to me from mount Ephraim two young men of the sons of the prophets: give them, I pray thee, a talent of silver, and two changes of garments.
23 And Naaman said, Be content, take two talents. And he urged him, and bound two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of garments, and laid them upon two of his servants; and they bare them before him.
24 And when he came to the tower, he took them from their hand, and bestowed them in the house: and he let the men go, and they departed.
Naaman was so thrilled to be healed that he gave him twice the amount of money Gehazi asked for, and Gehazi hid it because he was a thief as well as a hypocrite and a liar.
When Elisha asked Gehazi where he had been, he said, “. . . Thy servant went no whither” (2 Kings 5:25).
Elisha said, “. . . Went not mine heart [or spirit] with thee, when the man turned again from his chariot to meet thee? . . .” (2 Kings 5:26).
How could Elisha be sitting in his own house and yet know what was going on several miles away? God revealed it to him through a word of knowledge. God gave Elisha a supernatural revelation of what had happened, and it exposed Gehazi, a hypocrite.
The Word of Knowledge To Elisha Regarding Syria
Also in the Old Testament, a word of knowledge was given to warn a king of the enemy’s plan of destruction.
2 KINGS 6:8-12
8 Then the king of Syria warred against Israel, and took counsel with his servants,
saying, In such and such a place shall be my camp.
9 And the man of God sent unto the king of Israel, saying, Beware that thou pass not such a place; for thither the Syrians are come down.
10 And the king of Israel sent to the place which the man of God told him and warned him of, and saved himself there, not once nor twice.
11 Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was sore troubled for this thing; and he called his servants, and said unto them, Will ye not shew me which of us is for the king of Israel?
12 And one of his servants said, None, my lord, 0 king: but Elisha, the prophet that is in Israel, telleth the king of Israel the words that thou speakest in thy bedchamber.
Every time an enemy would set up an ambush-ment against Israel, the prophet of God would tell Israel their plans. Finally this king got his servants together and said, “We must have a traitor among us who is giving us away” (2 Kings 6:11).
The servants replied, “No, it is not us. A prophet of God in Israel tells the king of Israel what you speak in your bedchamber.” That was a supernatural revelation that God gave the prophet Elisha to warn him of the enemy’s plan to harm Israel.
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