Word of Wisdom

WORD OF WISDOM
1 Corinthians 12:8

Def: The supernatural application of knowledge. It is knowing what to do with the natural or supernatural knowledge God has given you – proper judgment for action. The supernatural gift of the ‘word of wisdom’ is the sudden and miraculous giving of wisdom to meet a particular situation, or answer a particular question, or utilize a particular piece of knowledge, natural or supernatural.

Function of the Gift:

1. Application of spiritual truth
2. Ability for the believer or the church to do God’s will
3. Shows God’s way through and out of any situation

Four Kinds of Knowledge:

1. Natural human wisdom is naturally applied knowledge.

Since human knowledge is on the increase, so too is human wisdom. However, compared to the wisdom of God, it is but foolishness. – 1 Corinthians 3:19, 1 Corinthians 1:19-20

2. The fallen world’s supernatural wisdom.

This is the very thing used to tempt Adam and Eve into sin. The desire to be supernaturally wise apart from God. – Genesis 3:6

3. True intellectual wisdom.

The Book of Proverbs and King Solomon’s wisdom are good examples of this. We are told to pursue this type of wisdom. It comes as we respect the Lord and seek knowledge in the Word of God. – Job 28:28, Proverbs 9:10, James 1:5

4. The gift of the word of wisdom
See above definition.

Examples:

• Joseph’s interpretation of Pharaoh’s dream – Genesis 41 (25-32)

• God gave knowledge to Moses to build the Tabernacle, but gave wisdom (skill) to Bezaleel to work with gold, silver, precious stones, etc. to actually build it. – Exodus 31:1-5

• 2 Chronicles 20:12-23

The Promise of Christ to You:

• Matthew 10:16-19

• Colossians 2:2-3

Spiritual Gits: The word of knowledge

WORD OF KNOWLEDGE
1 Corinthians 12:8


Def: The supernatural revelation of facts past, present, or future which were not learned through the efforts of the natural mind.

“The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man’s judgment:
“For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.”
1 Corinthians 2:15, 16, NIV.

Function of the Gift:
1. Protects the Christian from deception
2. Shows how to pray effectively
3. Shows how to help others


Four Kinds of Knowledge:

1. Natural human knowledge – Daniel 12:4
- The increase of human knowledge is exponential.
- 1 Corinthians 2:14
- 1 Corinthians 8:1

2. The fallen world’s supernatural knowledge – Acts 16:16-18
- The occult
- Psychic
- Metaphysical
- Cults

3. True human intellectual knowledge – John 17:3, Philippians 3:10
- Comes as a result of knowing Christ
- Being filled with the Holy Spirit
- Through studying the Word of God
- Which brings knowledge of the will of God – Exodus 33:12-13
- The knowledge of the Lord is increasing throughout the world! – Isaiah 11:9
- The knowledge of the Lord is eternal – Matthew 24:35, 1 Peter 1:25

4. The gift of the word of knowledge

What it isn’t:
- It isn’t a psychic phenomenon or esp
- It isn’t clairvoyance
- It isn’t precognition (the ability to know the future)

These are forbidden – 1Chronicles 10:13-14, Deuteronomy 18:9-12

There are two sources of spiritual power in this world: God and Satan. Just because something is ‘supernatural’ doesn’t mean that it is good or it is from God.

What it is:
- It is a gift from God
- It is a power of the world to come – through Jesus! – Hebrews 6:5, James 1:17
- It is to profit and benefit the church – 1 Corinthians 12:7

Examples:
- Used to expose sin – 2 Samuel 12:7-13 (David and Bathsheba)
- Used to reveal the condition of the heart – Matthew 9:2-6
- Jesus ‘saw’ Nathanael long before he met him – John 1:47-50
- Used to reveal corruption in the church – Acts 5:1-10




How can we see this being used in the contemporary church?

Discerning of Spirits

DISCERNING OF SPIRITS
The next three gifts are ‘revelation’ gifts because they consist of information supernaturally revealed from God.
Each of these gifts is the God-given ability to receive from Him facts concerning something, anything, about which it is humanly impossible for us to know, revealed to the believer so that he may be protected, pray more effectively or help someone in need.


1 Corinthians 12:10

Natural versus Spiritual Discernment

Natural discernment – available to Christian and non-Christian alike, is the judgment that we pass on people and circumstances, and on our own behavior, and is derived from teachings received in our homes, and the effect of our environment and culture.

Spiritual discernment – available only to Christians, is the power to know immediately what is motivating a person or situation.

Jesus and Discernment

• John 1:47
• Matthew 16:23
• Luke 9:54-56 (KJV)

The last two examples illustrate that even believers can be temporarily misled.

The Need for Discernment in the Last Days

Scripture teaches that before Jesus Christ returns there will be many deceiving spirits and false prophets unleashed upon the earth. The ability to discern between the counterfeit and the authentic is becoming increasingly vital to the health and life of the church.

• Matthew 24:1-5, 10-13, 23-24
• Revelation 13:11-14


Using the Gift of Discernment

There are a number of ways that the gift of discernment can be used in practical day-to-day life in Christ.

1. Recognition of other Christians in environments that do not allow for open conversation.
2. Evaluation of the exercise of other gifts being used within the Body of Christ. - 1 Corinthians 14:29
3. Spiritual Warfare – Acts 16:16-18
4. Deliverance ministry – Luke 4:18-19 (Isaiah 61:1-2)


Preparation for ministering the Gift of Discernment

If we are going to participate with Christ’s mission to set free the captives, then we must prepare. Here are some of the keys to being prepared to be used:

1. Submitted – James 4:7
2. Established in the authority of Christ – Mark 16:17-18

“A Christian cannot be possessed in his spirit (this is the home of the Holy Spirit), but his mind, emotions, and will can be depressed, oppressed, and obsessed by the enemy IF he has chosen to walk in known sin rather than with the Lord Jesus.” Dennis & Rita Bennett The Holy Spirit and You

Now that you are personally prepared to minister, here are some tools to use in ministry to the person:

1. Are they saved? If not, lead them to Christ. (Romans 3:23, 6:23, 5:8, John 1:12, Revelation 3:20)
2. Are they forgiven? If not, lead them to confession. (1 John 1:9, Psalms 103:12)
3. Discover the exact nature of the spirit of spirits you are dealing with. Don’t get involved in ‘counseling’, instead ask the Holy Spirit for revelation of the specific spirits that need deliverance. Ask the person to name the things that are troubling them. Treat each problem as a spiritual entity.
4. Deal with the spirit in the Name and Authority of Christ: “Spirit of Fear, I bind you in the name of Jesus, under His precious blood, and cast you into the outer darkness, never to return, in Jesus’ Name!” (Matthew 16:19, Matthew 12:28)
5. Involve the person to agree with you in prayer. (Matthew 18:20)
6. Don’t be hesitant! Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power! (Ephesians 6:10)
7. Once deliverance has happen, fill up the empty place with the Holy Spirit. Lay your hands on the person and ask that the Holy Spirit would completely fill the person with His Presence.

These are brief descriptions of a very powerful tool of God to change people’s lives. Much more study and preparation can be done, here’s some books you might find helpful:


Discerning of Spirits by Francis Frangipane - ISBN 096290497X Arrow Publications

Demons and Deliverance: In The Ministry Of Jesus (Spiritual Warfare Series) by Frank D. Hammond – ISBN 0892280018 Impact Christian Books

Exposing the Accuser of the Brethren (Discernment) by Francis Frangipane – ISBN 0962904961 Arrow Publications

How to Cast Out Demons: A Guide to the Basics by Doris M. Wagner – ISBN 0830725350 Renew Books

The Gift of Faith

THE GIFT OF FAITH
Hebrews 11:1

• Faith is PRESENT TENSE, Hope is FUTURE TENSE
• Faith is BELIEVING BEFORE SEEING, but will eventually bring substance to what you have believed.

“Natural Faith” comes through the five senses

True faith comes from God supernaturally.
What caused you to believe today what you did not believe yesterday?

Three Kinds of Supernatural Faith

That Which is Common to All Christians:

1. Saving Faith – Hebrews 11:6, Acts 16:31
- Key: Believing before seeing

a. Ephesians 2:8-9
b. Romans 10:17

2. Fruit of the Spirit – Galatians 5:22-23

a. John 15:5
b. Our faith in Jesus us the work of the Holy Spirit, and it is He Who supplies the faith as we go along in the Christian life. Our part is to respond to Him.
c. Matthew 9:29, Mark 9:23







That Which is Potential in All Christians

3. The Gift of Faith

1 Corinthians 12:9


“Faith: The special ability to discern with extraordinary confidence the will and purposes of God for the future of His work.” – C. Peter Wagner

“Faith: A sudden surge of faith, usually in a crisis, to confidently believe without a doubt, that as we act or speak in Jesus’ Name it shall come to pass.” – Dennis & Rita Bennett

“Faith: Communicating to the Body of Christ confidence that God’s specifically revealed plans and purposes will come to fulfillment, regardless of circumstances or challenges that might suggest otherwise.” – Doug Love


The spoken gift of faith is confessing what God says, as led by the Holy Spirit.

“Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. “I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him." Mark 11:22-23

The Greek for "Have faith in God" is 'echo pistis Theos' which literally is 'have faith God'. The reason that this is important is that our English translations inset the preposition 'in' which does not exist in the Greek. What's the point? This verse could just as easily and accurately be translated 'have the faith OF God', which changes everything. The person exercising the gift of faith, isn't exercising THEIR FAITH, they are exercising GOD'S FAITH. Our faith doesn’t move mountains – the faith of God does!

You see, if God wanted the mountain moved it would be no problem for Him. He has the power. In life, as we walk in faith, we want to walk in the right faith - the faith OF God. He has the power to do what we could never do.

The level of faith in which we are living may ebb and flow. Sometimes we find that we are strong in faith; the Holy Spirit in our spirit is allowed to work, and wonderful things happen in our lives. At other times, the hang-ups, doubts, fears and doubts and other debris in our souls that the Holy Spirit is working to remove gets in the way, and we are not able to function as well.

Though the gift of faith may be active from time to time in our lives, it should not surprise us if we also experience times of doubt. This only serves to remind us that Philippians 2:13 is true.

The Gift of Miracles

THE WORKING OF MIRACLES

“…to another miraculous powers…” 1 Corinthians 12:10

See 1 Corinthians 12:28

Miracles - dunamiv dunamis {doo'-nam-is}

1) strength power, ability
1a) inherent power, power residing in a thing by virtue of its
nature, or which a person or thing exerts and puts forth
1b) power for performing miracles


“The special ability to serve as human intermediaries through whom it please God to perform powerful acts that are perceived by observers to have altered the ordinary course of nature.”
C. Peter Wagner Discover Your Spiritual Gifts

“Miracles are events that seem to override or contradict the so-called laws of nature.”
Dennis Bennett The Holy Spirit and You


Laws of Nature – are that which is God’s USUAL way of doing things. But, they are subject to the authority of their Creator.

Purpose of Miracles - Miracles are done to meet the needs of people and in so doing to demonstrate that He is Sovereign and holds all power in His hands.

What were the purposes of these miracles?

Exodus 14:21-31 1 Kings 17:8-16


What were the purposes of Jesus’ miracles?

• John 2:1-11
• Mark 6:38-44
• Mark 6:45-52

Christ didn’t do miracles to force unbelievers into faith,
but to encourage faith amongst those who wanted to believe!

A tough act to follow – but follow we must! John 14:21

The power to do greater works comes from the fact that…
• Jesus ascended into heaven
• The POWER of the Holy Spirit has been sent & made available to all Christians!

What are the greater works that Jesus speaks of?

• Believers set free from prison by angelic power – Acts 12:1-17
• Evangelist Philip transported bodily from Gaza to Azotus by the power of the Holy Spirit – Acts 8:39-40
• Paul struck Elymas the Sorceror blind in order to keep him from hindering the Gospel – Acts 13:8-12
• Paul, bitten by deadly snake, but suffered no harm – Acts 28:3-8
• Surprised by the Power of the Holy Spirit – page 203-206

Jesus’ intentions for what happens when people believe:

“And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils;
they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing,
it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.”
Mark 16:17, 18, KJV

How did we get so far away from this?

What must we do to get back to this?

• Look with expectancy for God’s miracles to be manifested in and through your life
• Pray that God’s power will be manifested through the rest of the body of Christ
• Expect miracles to occur
• Keep your eyes on Jesus

The Gifts of Healing - Part 1

GIFTS OF HEALING

Healing: The special ability to serve as human intermediaries through whom it pleases God to cure illness and restore health apart from the use of natural means (see Acts 3:1-10, 5:12-16, 9:32-35, 28:7-10, 1 Corinthians 12:9, 28). [defined by
C. Peter Wagner Discover Your Spiritual Gifts]

The gifts of healing are for the supernatural curing of injuries, handicaps, and diseases without the aid of natural means or human skills. They are manifestations of the Holy Spirit working through compassionate human channels to the person in need. [defined by Dennis & Rita Bennett The Holy Spirit and You]


• Healing reflects the character and activity of God

Exodus 15:26

• The first instruction of Jesus given to His disciples prior to going out to minister in His Name

Matthew 10:8

• Healing continues the ministry that Jesus began

John 14:12



• The process of moving into healing ministry:

1. The leading of the Holy Spirit (guidance)
2. Explanation to the sick that Christ still heals (proclamation)
3. Praying for healing (faith)
4. Christ’s response (power)
5. Confirmation of God’s Word – Mark 16:20
6. Praise & worship regardless of outcome (glorifying God)


• Who can be involved in healing ministry?

Any believer.

Mark 16:17-18


• The laying on of hands

Jesus did it – Luke 4:40
The apostles did it – Acts 8:17
Regular Christians did it – Acts 9:18, 1 Timothy 4:14

Moves you into new giftings – 2 Timothy 1:6


• Anointing with oil

James 5:14-15

Mark 6:13

Oil is one of the symbols of the Holy Spirit


• God’s Will & healing

“James 5:15 says: ‘The prayer of faith shall save (heal) the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up… (KJV). Note the unconditional nature of the promise! We have no scriptural warrant to end a healing prayer with the faith-destroying phrase, “If it be thy will!” God has made it perfectly clear that it is His will to heal the sick – period. In the case of healing we know the Father’s will: “I amd the Lord Jehovah thy God that healeth thee!” (Exodus 15:26). “Who healeth all thy diseases” (Psalms 103:3). “I will take sickness away from the midst of thee!” (Exodus 23:25).” Dennis & Rita Bennett The Holy Spirit and You


• Gifts of Healing

1 Corinthians 12:9

Many diseases require many gifts of healing! It is not unusual for a Christian to be gifted to effectively heal a particular type of illness but not be effective with other diseases.


• Healing and faith

Healed by another person’s faith – Mark 2:3-5

Healed by your own faith – Mark 9:17-29, Mark 5:25-34

The best situation is when both parties are walking in faith!

When ministering build the faith of the one you are ministering to through:

o Scripture
o Testimony
o Romans 10:17


• The power of healing prayer to edify.

“I never feel God’s power more strongly than when I am praying for the sick.” Smith Wigglesworth


• The environment for healing ministry

o Insist that all possible distractions be eliminated (TV, Radio, noisy kids, cell phones)

• BEFORE – to establish God’s Presence and Priorities
• DURING – to move into God’s power
• AFTER – to cement and celebrate what God has done

o If possible, ask the unbelievers to leave – Mark 5:38-40
o Healing ministry is holy work deserving quality attention by all serious parties!


• Action steps into healing ministry

o Ask God for instructions/guidance/revelation on how to proceed

o Explain to those gathered (especially the sick person) what is about to happen

It is important to explain to the sick person that as hands are laid on him, he should release his faith and receive his healing.

o Deal with attitudes, resentments, sins that may be blocking God’s healing power.

James 5:16


• The best way to learn is to pray for the sick

o Ask God to use you in this way
o Step out in faith
o Expect God to show up


• Give Him the glory – regardless of immediate results!


Suggested Reading:

The Holy Spirit and You – Dennis and Rita Bennett – ISBN 0-88270-623-3

Power Healing – John Wimber – ISBN 0060695412

Surprised by the Power of the Holy Spirit – Jack Deere – ISBN 0310211271

How to Have a Healing Ministry in Any Church – C. Peter Wagner – ISBN 0830715266

Smith Wigglesworth on Healing – Smith Wigglesworth – ISBN 0883684268

The Gift of Prophecy - Part Two

(NOTE: This teaching FOLLOWS the earlier teaching on "The Gift of Teaching" - Scroll down and you find it, or click on the link to the right)

INTRODUCTION:

• 1 Corinthians 14:1 – The importance of DESIRE

Greek Word for DESIRE: zeloo {dzay-lo'-o}

from 2205; TDNT - 2:882,297; v

AV - zealously affect 2, move with envy 2, envy 1, be zealous 1,
affect 1, desire 1, covet 1, covet earnestly 1, misc 2; 12

1) to burn with zeal
1a) to be heated or to boil with envy, hatred, anger
1a1) in a good sense, to be zealous in the pursuit of good
1b) to desire earnestly, pursue
1b1) to desire one earnestly, to strive after, busy one's self
about him
1b2) to exert one's self for one (that he may not be
torn from me)
1b3) to be the object of the zeal of others, to be zealously
sought after
1c) to envy


ESPECIALLY – the gift of prophecy!

WHY DESIRE PROPHECY?

• 1 Corinthians 14:2-5 (esp. 3)

WHAT DOES PROPHECY ACCOMPLISH?

1. Edification – building up
See Ephesians 4:29

2. Encouragement – “a calling near”
See Hebrews 3:13

3. Comfort – bringing a message that calms
See 2 Corinthians 1:3-5


FIRST STEPS TOWARDS A PROPHETIC MINISTRY

“How can we give a pure word of prophecy that glorifies the Lord, has no mixture from our hearts and has no influence of the enemy attached? What we need almost as a guarantee that we will not dishonor the Lord Jesus, discredit the ministry or disrupt the Body of Christ is a large dose of humility.” Graham Cooke Developing Your Prophetic Gifting p. 45 Chosen Books ©2003

• James 3:13


PREPARATION FOR PROPHETIC MINISTRY

1. Prayer & listening
2. Asking for revelation
3. Develop a lifestyle of thanksgiving
4. Meditate on scripture
5. Wait on God – intentionally and purposefully
6. Develop your prayer language
7. Earnestly desire to prophesy
8. Live in expectation
9. Allow the Holy Spirit to give you a burden/concern
10. Stir up the gift by moving out in faith with the right motive

CONCLUSION:

Prophecy is desperately needed in the Body of Christ today. Paul says that we are to earnestly desire to prophesy. In humility and with the aim of glorifying God, seek to stir up the gift of God in your life bringing words that edify, encourage and comfort those around you.