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.
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 prophetic 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 Ananias
Another example of this gift in operation is found in Acts chapter 9. "And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision . . ." (Acts 9:10). Here the word of knowledge came to a layman through a vision.
Ananias wasn't an apostle, as was John. He wasn't a pastor or evangelist or teacher. The Bible calls him a disciple. He was just a member of the church at Damascus. If the Lord wills, laymen as well as ministers can have a manifestation of the word of knowledge or any of the gifts of the Spirit.
Arise, and go into the street which is called straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, And hath seen in a vision [Saul also had a like vision] a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.In a vision the Lord told Ananias what to do: ". . . Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth" (v. 11).
(Acts 9:11-12)
Ananias couldn't have known in the natural that in a certain house on a certain street a man named Saul was praying at that minute. Ananias couldn't have known that Saul had had a vision in which he had seen a man called Ananias coming in and putting his hands on him that he might receive his sight. Ananias couldn't have known this any other way than by supernatural revelation. He knew it by the word of knowledge.
Of course, God knew about everyone who was praying everywhere at that time, but He didn't give Ananias knowledge of everyone who was praying; He just gave Ananias knowledge about one man who was praying—Saul of Tarsus. That was a supernatural revelation of a certain fact in the mind of God. It was the word of knowledge which came to Ananias in a vision.
The Word of Knowledge vs. The Word of Wisdom
I said that the word of knowledge is a supernatural revelation by the Spirit of God concerning certain facts in the mind of God— facts about people, places, or things in the past or present.
The word of wisdom is a supernatural revelation by the Spirit of God concerning the divine purpose and plan in the mind and will of God. The word of wisdom is the best gift because it is a revelation concerning the plans and the purposes in the mind of God.
The difference between the two gifts—the word of knowledge and the word of wisdom—is that the revelation the word of knowledge brings is always present tense or concerning something that has happened in the past. On the other hand, the word of wisdom always speaks of the future.
The Word of Knowledge and the Word of Wisdom Can Operate Together
We divide the two gifts of the word of knowledge and the word of wisdom and deal with them singularly. However, as I mentioned, very often spiritual gifts operate together.
We see these two gifts of the Holy Spirit —the word of knowledge and the word of wisdom—in operation throughout the Old Testament as well as in the New Testament.
In particular, we can see how the word of wisdom and the word of knowledge flowed together as the prophets prophesied. The Old Testament prophets often operated in these gifts along with the gift of prophecy.
The Old Testament prophets not only prophesied about the present, which is the word of knowledge in operation, but they also prophesied about things in the future, which is the word of wisdom in operation. And their prophecies foretold of events in the near future as well as events in the distant future, including the New Covenant and the coming Messiah.
The Word of Knowledge and the Word of Wisdom Operating Together in The New Testament
An example in the New Testament of the gifts of the word of knowledge and the word of wisdom operating together is found in the Book of Revelation.
As we pointed out in the previous lesson, when the Lord spoke to the Apostle John on the Isle of Patmos, it was in the form of a vision. Jesus appeared to him in this vision and told him about the present condition of the seven churches in Asia Minor. The condition of those seven churches was a manifestation of the word of knowledge.
The present condition of these churches was revealed to John through a word of knowledge in a vision. Then the Lord went on to give John a word of wisdom. The Lord told each one of the churches what to do in the future, according to His plans and purposes for them.
Discerning of Spirits
The discerning of spirits gives supernatural insight into the spirit world. "To discern" means to perceive by seeing or hearing. Therefore, discerning of spirits is the same as seeing or hearing in the realm of spirits.
The discerning of spirits actually has a more limited range of operation than the other two revelation gifts, the word of wisdom and the word of knowledge. That is because its revelation is limited to a single class of objects—spirits.
The revelation that the word of wisdom and the word of knowledge bring is broader and applies to people, places, and things. The discerning of spirits gives us supernatural insight only into the realm of spirits. Remember, the discerning of spirits is seeing or hearing into the spirit world. It also reveals the kind of spirit that is in operation behind a supernatural manifestation.
What the Discerning of Spirits Is Not
The discerning of spirits is not a kind of spiritual mind reading. And the discerning of spirits is not psychological insight, nor is it mental "penetration." It is not the power to discern the faults of others.
You will find that the power to discern faults in others is possessed not only by believers but by unbelievers as well. You don't even have to be a Christian to have that "gift"! As a matter of fact, the power to discover or discern the faults in others is absolutely forbidden in the Scriptures. "Judge not, that ye be not judged" (Matt. 7:1).
One purpose of the baptism in the Holy Ghost is to destroy this "gift" of discerning faults in others, which is nothing more than criticism, and then to replace it with the sweet gift of gentle forbearance. The gift of discerning of spirits is not faultfinding. If those who think they have the "gift" of faultfinding would just turn that "gift" on themselves for about fifteen seconds, they would never use it again.
Therefore, the discerning of spirits is not a spiritual gift to uncover human failures. Christians should walk in love, and the Bible says love covers a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8). Paul, writing to the Church at Ephesus, said, "And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you" (Eph. 4:32). Paul was talking here to Christians.
No, the discerning of spirits is not discerning of character or faults; it is not even the discerning of people. It is called the discerning of spirits, and it deals with spirits that exist in the spirit realm, whether they are divine, satanic, or human.
The realm of the spirit is very real, although we cannot perceive it with our natural senses. God has provided the gift of discerning of spirits to give the Church supernatural insight into this spiritual realm, as His Spirit wills.
by Kenneth E.Hagin
Excerpt permission granted by Faith Library Publications
Rev. Hagin served in Christian ministry for nearly 70 years and was known as the "father of the modern faith movement." His teachings and books are filled with vivid stories that show God's power and truth working in his life and the lives of others.
