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Chapter Four
The three gifts of revelation and information
The gift of a word of knowledge. "logos gnoseos"
This is the second gift in the list in 1Cor.12v8-10., and it comes close behind the word of wisdom in importance. Let us consider some important facts about a word of knowledge, “logos gnoseos.” See “logion” 1Pet.4v11. Acts.7v38.
WHAT A WORD OF KNOWLEDGE IS NOT.
A word of knowledge is not any kind of natural ability or knowledge.
A word of knowledge is the miraculous impartation of a small part of God's awesome omniscience. It is a fact that is supernaturally given by the Holy Spirit of which the recipient usually has no previous knowledge; however, it will occasionally confirm as a fact something we may have been told, felt, or feared, as when David asked God if the men of Keilah would deliver him to Saul, God told David they would. 1Sam.23v1-12. Reliance upon human ability hinders the manifestation of this gift; God does not glorify human pride or ability. Lk.10v21,22. Acts.4v13. 1Cor.1v26-31. Paul learned to glory in his limitations, not his abilities, so that Christ's power could rest upon him. 1Cor.2v1-5. 2Cor.12v5-10. God places no premium on ignorance; He resists pride in the ignorant and the intellectual. Ps.138v6. James.4v6.
A word of knowledge is not even a good knowledge of the Scriptures.
It is not the accumulation of Scripture facts by study, it is a spiritual revelation from God of some fact that we need to know. It is not any kind of preaching or teaching ministry, it is a revelation designed to show God's omniscience, care, and love.
A word of knowledge is not given to pry into people's lives.
It is not the gift of being a critical person or busybody; like all the gifts, it is intended to be manifested by the longsuffering and kind. Indeed, a Christian can only manifest this gift when God wants them to. When God reveals some great need in a person's life, it is seldom for the purpose of publicly challenging them; it may be to warn you, but usually it is so that you can pray for them, and help them. Many revelations should never be told to others, they are to reveal a matter for earnest prayer.
A DEFINITION OF A WORD OF KNOWLEDGE.
A word of knowledge is a supernatural revelation given by God, which reveals to us facts, which we could not know other than by Divine revelation. It can tell us of events and things in the past, present, or future. It is totally miraculous, being a part of God's awesome omniscience. Sometimes Christians can receive a word of knowledge without realising it, Peter did not know that his statement that Christ was the Son of the living God, was a Divine revelation, until Jesus told him. Mt.16v16,17.
SOME EXAMPLES AND USES OF THE WORD OF KNOWLEDGE.
Sometimes we need a word of knowledge to make sense of a word of wisdom, or a word of wisdom to deal with the situation a word of knowledge reveals. Sometimes we only need common sense to act on the revelation of a word of knowledge, at other times we may need a word of God's wisdom. The close link between these two gifts is seen in the following examples.
To warn of dangers ahead.
This gift is a manifestation of the amazing omniscience and foreknowledge of God, and one of the major uses of this gift is to warn people of danger. God revealed Benhadad's secret plans to Elisha and saved Israel from his armies. 2Kings6v8-12. God warned the wise men, Mary and Joseph of Herod's evil intentions through dreams. Mt.2v12,13. Paul was warned of danger at Jerusalem, and the storm. Acts.21v10-12. 27v10,11,21-26. Sometimes we cannot avoid the circumstances and dangers ahead, they are in the path of duty, but God can graciously prepare us for them through this gift. If we refuse to listen to God's warnings through this gift, we can expect real trouble and spiritual defeat. God continually warned Israel of the intentions of surrounding nations, but they refused to listen, and would not make the spiritual preparations that would have given them victory. The apostles refused to accept Christ's revelations about His sufferings and death, and were defeated as a result. Mt.16v21-24. 17v22,23. 20v17-19. with Mt.26v55,56. Mk.16v9-14. Peter refused to accept the possibility of his fall, and so he fell. Jn.13v36-38. 18v25-27. Lk.22v31-34,54-62. Peter believed the prophecy of Jesus that he would be an old man before he died, and so he slept in prison, secure in the knowledge that God would deliver him, when there was unbelieving anxiety in the rest of the Christians. Jn.21v18,19. 2Pet.1v13,14. with Acts.12v5-7,13-17. God not only reveals great trials to us, sometimes, in His great wisdom, He hides them from us. 2Kings.4v27. We rejoice that our lives are in the hands of our heavenly Father, whose love and wisdom are absolutely perfect.
God can reveal a person's character and thoughts when necessary. 1Cor.14v24,25.
God can reveal trustworthy and beautiful souls He has called to His work.
Nathanael, Andrew, Peter and John. Jn.1v37,40-42,46-51. The apostles. Lk.6v12-16. Paul. Acts.9v17-25. 13v2. God also confirmed calls to those who He knew would fail Him badly. Saul. 1Sam.9v19. 10v16. Jeroboam. 1Kings.11v28-34. 13v1-34.
God can save us from being deceived by devious and sly people with respected veneers, and good-looking faces.
We can often be wrong when we judge a person's character by human discernment, for they can hide from us what they are really like. Even the mature and wise Samuel was deceived by the fine looks of David's brothers, until God revealed their hearts to him. God's choice, the youngest son David, was excluded by Jesse from meeting the prophet Samuel, and was left outside to care for the sheep, even though Samuel had asked for all the sons to be present. 1Sam.16v5-13. The deceit of Jeroboam's wife was revealed to the blind prophet Ahijah. 1Kings.14v5,6. The slander of Judas was revealed to Jesus, Jn.6v70,71.; as were Simon's critical thoughts, Lk.7v36-40.; and the intentions of the Pharisees to trap Jesus in His speech. Lk.5v22. 14v1-6. Mk.2v5-8. Mt.22v15-22. N.B. v18.
God can deliver God's people from false prophets, etc. by means of this gift.
Jeremiah's and Ezekiel's foes. Jer.23v16. Ezek.13v2. Micaiah's enemies. Ahab and his false prophets. 1Chron.18v1-34.
God can expose the sinner's heart, and often bring them to repentance.
Paul tells us that when the secrets of the hearts of unbelievers are revealed, they will fall down on their face and say that God is in the midst. 1Cor.14v24,25. David. 2Sam.12v1-9. Jesus manifested this gift with the woman at the well. Jn.4v16-19,29. This kind of revelation is nearly always accompanied by the forgiving mercy of God, however, occasionally; God has brought judgement upon those who have committed gross and deliberate unrepentant sin, as in the case of Gehazi, 2Kings.5v20-27.; and Ananias and Sapphira. Acts.5v1-11. Achan was judged, because 36 men died because of his sin. Joshua.7v1-26. The Jezebel of Rev.3v20-23., died for her sin. We must remember that God will never reveal sin that has been confessed and forgiven, and is under the blood, He will only reveal unconfessed sin. Is.44v22. Acts.3v19. Heb.8v10-12.
God can reveal the facts about people to inspire them to seek and trust God.
It can reveal a seeking heart and its need and so that need can be met.
The woman at the well believed in Jesus through one outstanding word of knowledge, and inspired others to believe through her testimony to that word of knowledge. Jn.4v1-42. N.B. v18,29. Ananias was told that Paul, the leading opponent of the Church, had become a praying Christian and was given his address and told to visit Paul and pray for him. God told Paul that Ananias was going to visit him, pray for him, and restore his sight. Acts.9v10-19. Cornelius was told the name and address of Peter and was instructed to send for him, the result was a remarkable revival, and many seeking hearts found Jesus. Acts.10v1-48.
It can greatly encourage discouraged saints.
Elijah was told of the faithful 7,000, who had not bowed the knee to Baal. 1Kings.19v14-18. Angels tell the women of the risen Christ. Mt.28v6. Jesus told Paul that He had many people in wicked Corinth, without this knowledge Paul might have felt the position was hopeless; he was greatly encouraged by this revelation and won a great victory for God. Acts.18v6-11. Josiah and Cyrus were greatly encouraged to perform God's will by the revelation of their names and work about 200 years before they fulfilled the prophecies spoken about them. 1Kings.13v2. 2Kings.21v24. to 23v25. Is.45v1-4.
Christ can reveal and heal broken hearts, wounded spirits and scarred memories.
The wounds of sin, heartbreak from bereavement, great domestic problems, indeed emotional injuries, scars and hurts of any kind can be revealed and healed by the Christ who came to send forth the crushed in liberty. Is.61v1-3. Lk.4v18,19. Jn.4v16-19,29. This is one of the most precious uses of this lovely gift of the Holy Spirit.
To inspire faith for salvation or healing. Jn.1v48,49. 4v48.
Jesus revealed to Nathanael that he had been sitting under a fig tree, and was praying and thinking about Jacob's stairway to heaven; it inspired him to believe that Jesus was the promised Messiah. Jesus still inspires faith in the same way today, I have seen God save and heal people as a result of this kind of revelation. Lk.13v12-16. Hindrances to healing can be revealed and removed; for example, a husband’s ill treatment of their wife or children, or a bitter spirit of unforgiveness. Mt.18v5-7,35. 1Pet.3v7.
God can reveal real needs for prayer through words of knowledge.
This is the gift of the prayer warrior. Christ prayed earnestly for Peter before his fall, and Peter came through in spite of his sin and failure. Mk.14v27-31,37,38,50. Paul prayed for Christians who he had never met personally by revelation through words of knowledge. Col.2v1-5. 1Cor.5v3. So did the apostle John in Rev.2. and 3.. The Holy Spirit has given many Christians a revelation of a prayer need, and they have later found that those who they were praying for were in great need. By revealing needs for prayer, a word of knowledge can carry the directive force of a word of wisdom, and show us the need for prayer, action and faith.
God can reveal how material needs in His work can be met through this gift.
The place to hold the Passover feast, and a Christian meeting. Mk.14v12-16. The coin in the mouth of the fish. Mt.17v24,25. Transport into Jerusalem. Zech.9v9. with Mk.11v1-7. See 1Sam.10v1-8. 30v1-8,18,19.
The word of knowledge has an important place as a sign and wonder.
A word of knowledge can have a tremendous effect upon people as we can see from Daniel's revelation of Nebuchadnezzar's dream, it shook an empire. Dan.2v21-26. It was an important part of the Old Testament prophet’s armoury, and has an equally important part to play in this age. A word of knowledge from God's all knowledge, can make all the difference between defeat and victory, and even if the revealed knowledge is only a small thing like the revelation of a persons dream or thoughts, or a coin in the mouth of a fish, or a person sitting under a fig tree, it can bring real blessing and meet very real needs, and greatly glorify the Lord Jesus. This gift is one of the bright colours in the rainbow of God's infinite abilities and fullness. We may consider this gift separately from the others, but it is really part of God's indivisible fullness and ability, as are all the other gifts. Let us earnestly desire this greater gift from our heavenly Father.
A FURTHER EXAMINATION OF A WORD OF WISDOM AND A WORD OF KNOWLEDGE.
What do the Greek words "logos sophias" and "logos gnoseos" convey?
The Greek word "logos."
“Logos” is used for a personal title of our dear Lord Jesus. Jn.1v1-18. However, in the context of “a manifestation of the Spirit,” 1Cor.12v7., it can have but two possibilities. It can convey the thought of divinely inspired Christian doctrine, Titus.1v3,9. Heb.2v2. 6v1.; or Divine revelation of a prophetic nature. 2Thes.2v2. Indeed, the cognate word, “logion” is used exclusively in the New Testament to speak of revelation from God, it is translated as “oracles” in the Authorised Version in Acts.7v38. Rom.3v2. Heb.5v12, and 1Pet.4v11., and this is also the meaning of the word in classical literature. “Logos sophias” and “logos gnoseos” do not necessarily speak of human utterance; this is the sphere of the gift of prophecy. They may, or may not, be spoken out; they can be for our personal instruction, as in the case of Paul in 2Cor.12v1-4., who heard “unspeakable words,” “arreta remata,” which it was not lawful, “ouk exon,” for him to utter.
Trench in considering the difference between “phone” and “logos,” states on page 334 and 335 of his “Synonyms of the New Testament,” that utterance is not an essential characteristic of “logos,” and need not refer to a spoken word. “But 'logos,' a word, saying, or rational utterance of the 'nous,' (mind), whether spoken or unspoken, being as it is the correlative of reason, can only be predicted of men, of angels, or of God. ---- Augustine traces with a singular subtlety the manifold and profound fitness, which lie in them for the setting forth of those relations. A word, he observes, is something even without a voice, for a word in the heart is as truly a word as after it is outspoken; while a voice is nothing, a mere unmeaning sound an empty cry, unless it be also the vehicle of a word.” End of quote.
The Greek word for wisdom is "sophias."
“Wisdom,” “sophias,” is used of “devilish wisdom.” James.3v15. Of natural human wisdom. Mt.16v1-3. However, in the context of “a manifestation of the Spirit;” 1Cor.12v7.; it speaks of a Divine wisdom imparted by the Holy Spirit.
Robinson says on page 761 of his Lexicon of “sophias.” “In respect to Divine things, wisdom, i.e. knowledge, insight, deep understanding, represented everywhere as a Divine gift, and including the idea of practical application; thus distinguished from “gnosis” or theoretical knowledge;...It is specially used of insight imparted from God in respect to the Divine counsels.”
A word of wisdom communicates a fragment of Divine knowledge and wisdom; it is not a result of human reasoning.
The Greek word for knowledge is "gnoseos."
“Gnoseos,” is used in the New Testament to speak of all kinds of spiritual knowledge, doctrinal knowledge, as well as revelation knowledge. Lk.1v77. 11v52. Rom.2v20. 11v33. 15v14. 1Cor.13v2,8. 14v6. Eph.3v19. Phil.3v8. Col.2v3. 2Pet.3v18. However, when it is used in the context of “a manifestation of the Spirit;” it speaks of a divine communication of knowledge and truth, not a product of human thought. 1Cor.12v7. It is clear from these facts, that words of wisdom and knowledge have been the means of conveying to us eternal Divine doctrinal truth, that are part of the Scriptures, as well as ordinary prophetic truth for a temporary and local situation. However, the foundation for Scripture truth has been laid for this age, and we are forbidden to add to or take away from it. Gal.1v6-9. Eph.2v20. 3v5. Jude.v3,4. Rev.22v19. In our present day, the manifestations of these two gifts, are to meet current needs, not to convey new truth.
Words of Wisdom and Words of Knowledge do not make a person a Bible Teacher.
A teacher's gift is of a more permanent and continuous nature.
Both “logos sophias” and “logos gnoseos” lack the definite article, and so the indefinite article “a” should be placed before them; “a” word of wisdom and knowledge, which implies they are speaking of something which is fragmentary. A teacher's ministry is a permanent divinely given faculty, not a sporadic spiritual gift. Paul taught all night by ministry gift; he also experienced Divine illumination and guidance through spiritual gifts. Acts.16v6-11. 18v9-11. Compare Acts.20v6-12. Paul was a teacher who also had a revelation ministry. Acts.13v1.
Where does the faculty to expound the Scripture and to reveal the deeper knowledge and fundamental doctrines of Christianity come from? It is obviously a permanent faculty and gift deposited in the mind and spirit by God. Eph.4v11. That there can be an extension of both natural and spiritual faculties by Divine anointing is a fact of Scripture. Moses prayer for Joshua imparted an anointing, wisdom and spiritual insight. Deut.34v9. Jesus revealed experimental truth to babes and sucklings that was hidden from the wise and prudent. Mt.11v25-27. Lk.10v17-24. N.B. v 21. Paul prayed that God would give the Christians at Ephesus, “a spirit of wisdom and revelation,” so that they could fully perceive vital spiritual truth, and fully perceive the love of Christ. Eph.1v15-19. 3v14-20. This anointing can give the ability to perceive already revealed truth as well as manifest spiritual gifts. A spiritual gift is a temporary gift from the Holy Spirit to a person; a teaching ministry is a permanent and continuous ministry of doctrine through a person. The revelation gifts are given to us through the operation of the Holy Spirit upon our spirit; a teaching ministry comes through the disciplined use of our mind under the anointing of the Holy Spirit. A Bible teacher's source of material is the Scripture, not revelation gifts; he may receive illumination upon known truth by Divine revelation, and incorporate it into his teaching; but his main source of teaching material is the Scriptures.
A teacher expounds known Scripture truth, not reveals unknown facts.
“Logos sophias” and “logos gnoseos” both speak of Divine revelation, and not of the accumulation of facts by intellectual process, which is the work of a Christian teacher, who has to “labour in the word and doctrine.” 1Tim.5v17. A teacher consecrates the talent of a good and keen mind to God and is enabled to discern truth by the anointing of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit guides all Christians into Scriptural truth, but all do not manifest the spiritual gifts of words of wisdom and knowledge. These two gifts give knowledge that can only be obtained by Divine revelation, and speak of knowledge outside of that revealed in the Scripture, which is open to all to read and understand. These two gifts operate in the sphere of direction, prediction, and revelation, and not in the realm of continuous teaching and Scriptural exposition. Some Christians have a remarkable teaching ministry from God, even though they have little or no prophetic or revelation ministry. Obviously such Scriptures as 1Cor.2v9-16. Eph.1v17,18. and Jn.16v13-15.; can include both revelation via spiritual gifts and by Scriptural truth. Both teaching ministries and spiritual gifts have a vital part to play in building up Christ's Church.
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