Several years ago, my wife, Loretta, and I were speaking at a series of meetings in Iowa. At the end of one of these meetings in Fairfield, a man and woman came to the front of the congregation and asked Loretta and me to pray for them. I asked them what they would like for us to agree with them in prayer for and they indicated that they needed help in the area of finances.
It seems that even though they both worked, they could never seem to get their finances to stretch to the weekend. Instead of having money left over at the end of the week, they had week left over at the end of the money.
Well, just as I started to pray, Loretta quickly looked up and said, “Are you two married?” I looked down at their hands and they were both wearing wedding rings. I thought to myself, “Oops, Loretta’s really missed it this time.”
The man and woman both looked up and had strange looks on their faces. The man said, “Well, yes, of course, we’re married.” Then he paused and said, “But not to each other.”
Loretta had hit the nail on the head. These two people were living in adultery and asking God to bless them. But here’s the question. How did Loretta know? We had never been to that church before. We had never even been to Fairfield, Iowa before.
Well, here’s the answer. In Acts chapter 5, there was a man named Ananias who, along with his wife, Sapphira, sold some land. When they sold the land, they kept back a certain amount of the money for themselves and Ananias took the balance and gave it to Peter and the apostles, who were the leaders of the early church.
When he laid the money at the feet of the apostles, Peter said, “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? While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.”
When Ananias heard these words he fell down dead. Later, his wife came in and the same thing happened to her. Now, how did Peter know that they had kept some of the money?
The answer is: Peter didn’t know, but the Holy Spirit did. Peter, who had been filled with the Holy Spirit, was operating in the gift of the word of knowledge. There was no way he could have known, but the Holy Spirit, Who is the Spirit of God, knows everything. Nothing is hidden from God.
In John 14, Jesus said that He was going to be with the Father and when He left, the Father would send the Holy Spirit in His name to be here with us as our comforter and helper until He, Jesus, returned.
One of the gifts of the Holy Spirit that is available to Christians is described in 1 Corinthians 13:8 and that gift is called “the word of knowledge.”
How did Peter know that the land was sold for more money than Ananias and Sapphira had said? The Holy Spirit spoke through him with a word of knowledge. How did Loretta know that the two people were not married? The Holy Spirit spoke through her with a word of knowledge.
Keep this in mind. God’s power has not diminished. He is no less supernatural today than He was 2,000 years ago.
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Dr. Larry Ollison is founder and Senior Pastor of Walk on the Water Faith Church and founder of Larry Ollison Ministries. With over forty years in the ministry, he is a very popular speaker nationally and internationally and ministers the Word of Faith through radio, television, Internet, and daily e-mail devotionals. As the author of twelve books (including The Power of Grace, The Practical Handbook for Christian Living, Breaking the Cycle of Offense, Life is in the Blood, and recently released The Paradise of God), he is in frequent demand for radio/TV interviews, book signings, and magazine publications.
Dr. Ollison was raised a Southern Baptist. While majoring in theology at Southwest Baptist University, he received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. For many years he traveled extensively speaking at Full Gospel Business Men's meetings and conventions. He later earned an M.A. in Theology and a Ph.D. and Th.D. from Life Christian University.
Currently President of International Convention of Faith Ministries (ICFM), Dr. Ollison is also Vice-President of Spirit FM Christian Radio Network, Missouri State Director of Christians United for Israel (CUFI), and a Trustee on the boards of several international ministries. He is also the host of The Cutting Edge Radio Broadcast and authors The Cutting Edge Daily Devotional.
As the owner of a marine dealership, his extensive business background brings a unique flavor to his teaching. He founded and served as chairman of the Missouri State Marine Board, President of the Marine Dealers’ Association, Vice-President of a bank holding company, along with holding several directorships in various corporations.
Dr. Ollison's strongest areas of teaching are the blood of Jesus, faith, relationships, the Hebrew language, the Holy Spirit, the end times, and heaven. During ministry, he operates freely in the gifts of the Holy Spirit. His use of humor and his ability to make a theological concept simple makes it enjoyable and easy for everyone to understand. Countless testimonies have been received from people who say their lives have been changed after experiencing Dr. Ollison's unique ministry.
Dr. Ollison is a pastor, pilot, teacher, and author. His number one goal is to meet the needs of the people through the teaching of faith in God's Word. He and his wife, Loretta, have two children and six grandchildren.