The Use of Spiritual Gifts within the Church: Part 2 1 Corinthians 12:8 (NKJV) Word of Knowledge and Wisdom We are looking at the gifts of the Spirit in our text today. Chapters 12-14 have to do with order in the church, and particularly the gifts of the Spirit and how they operate in the church. I put the emphasis on the church because that s what they are for They [the gifts] are not for individual enjoyment, but for corporate employment. Warren Wiersbe (The Wiersbe Bible Commentary: New Testament, David C. Cook, 2007, p. 485) This chapter is a reminder to the church of Corinth that the gifts were to prosper the church, not for self-promotion. What should have unified the church was dividing the church because they were using the gifts for their own gain, and not for the gain of the kingdom. When we accept and use our gifts with a heart of humility, to promote harmony and unity, then the church is going to prosper. It s my prayer that as we walk through the gifts, we would see them as tools by which the body would be built up, not as a platform for us to be puffed up. Today, we look at two of the gifts listed here in chapter 12: the gift of knowledge and the gift of wisdom. Vs. 8 for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit I would like to touch on knowledge first before we get into the gift of wisdom. The reason is because knowledge is often what comes before wisdom when you and I get a word of knowledge we should pray for wisdom to follow. So I am going to touch on knowledge first. Let me give you a definition of the gift of knowledge Word of knowledge a divine impartation of knowledge concerning a person or situation. Copyright 2013 Chris Fraley 1
It s important to note that I did not say this is a knowledge you get by studying or researching this is not textbook knowledge this is a divine, supernatural knowledge. Let me give you an example When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am? So they said, Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets. He said to them, But who do you say that I am? Simon Peter answered and said, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus answered and said to him, Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. Matthew 16:13-17 (NKJV) Now, we all know Peter he had some good days and bad days he could put his foot in his mouth with no trouble at all. At one time, when Peter was not down with Jesus speaking of His death, Peter told Jesus that it wasn t supposed to happen, and Jesus said to Peter, Satan, get behind me! That was not good for Peter, so when Peter actually said something that was totally on, Jesus made sure that everyone knew that Peter was influenced by the Holy Spirit that was a good day for Peter! Jesus points out that flesh and blood did not reveal this; this did come through human intuition but supernatural intervention. After Pentecost, Peter seemed to flow in this gift more often; we see it take place again in Acts 5. Ananias and Sapphira had sold some land and kept back some of the proceeds from the Lord, and Peter had a word of knowledge when he saw them But 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. Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and Copyright 2013 Chris Fraley 2
breathed his last. So great fear came upon all those who heard these things. Acts 5:3-5 (NKJV) It was fine that they kept back some of the profit when they sold the land; the problem was that they made it look like they were giving it all, and Ananias did not correct the misunderstanding. Peter had been given a word of knowledge; he did not ask the real estate agent, he did not ask the buyer of the property, he did not have access to their bank account there is nothing in scripture that gives us the idea that Ananias had a guilty countenance or that he had a wad of cash hanging out of his pocket. Peter was given a supernatural knowledge from the Lord concerning Ananias and Sapphira. Now you might say, Why did the Lord take their lives? Isn t that harsh? It was to keep the early church pure. This did not become common practice for the Lord. He did it to set an example in the church that hypocrisy like this, to deceive like this, only brought death to the church. Notice the outcome So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things. Acts 5:11 (NKJV) Now, it s important to note that those who have experienced the gift of knowledge will find that it s not always a reservoir that you can tap into at will. These operations aren t ours to use whenever we wish, but only as the Holy Spirit wills be that once every ten years, or ten times a day. Jon Courson (Jon Courson s Application Commentary: New Testament, Thomas Nelson, 2003, p. 1070) Sometimes, it comes at times when you least expect it. I will never forget the first time I experienced this gift. We lived in Texas and my dad was the pastor of Elmwood Baptist Church. It was a little inner city church on the rough side of Fort Worth, Texas. Copyright 2013 Chris Fraley 3
Something terrible was happening at our little church there in Texas. Someone had lit the building on fire. It was on the news; it was a big deal. I still remember my dad being interviewed on television. He was sure it was the kids in the neighborhood. What was even more terrible was that it happened a second time! One day, I was in the car with my dad and I asked him who he thought was burning down the church because I really believed I knew who it was at eight years old. He said it might have been a gang of teenagers in the area, and then he asked me who I thought it was. I told him it was the custodian. He freaked out at me a bit, thinking that if I said that to anyone it wouldn t be good. But guess what? Later they found out it was the custodian. The guy who should have been protecting the place was destroying it. How did I know that? It had to be the Lord. Why did the Lord put that on my heart? To get that into the heart of my dad. Eventually, he got caught and they put him away where he could not harm the church. Listen to what the Word of God reminds us that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power Ephesians 1:17-19 (NKJV) Those of you that often see this gift working in your life, let me encourage you, even exhort you: with the word of knowledge comes responsibility. It s not always so that you can expose them, but if you do confront, make sure that it s led by the Spirit and not by your flesh. Years ago I was asked to speak up at Green Valley. There were hundreds of high schoolers attending from many of the Calvarys in Arizona. I spoke on Copyright 2013 Chris Fraley 4
faith and then that night I led an afterglow. But before I spoke, I got up there early to hang out and pray to walk around and just pray for God s heart for what He wanted to do in the hearts of the students. As I was walking across the quad, they were all out goofing off, and there were two girls practicing with volleyball, and immediately the Lord spoke to my heart that one of the girls was in a physical relationship with her boyfriend. That night during the afterglow, the Lord put in on my heart that there was a girl that the lord was speaking to about an ungodly relationship that she was having with her boyfriend, and that God wanted her to get it right; that He would forgive and restore, and that she was settling for less than what God wanted. And as I spoke, the girl that the Lord spoke to my heart made her way up in front of all her peers, sobbing but repentant and restored. You see, God gave me a word of knowledge so that I could pray for her, so that when the afterglow time came she would have an opportunity to get that right before the Lord. Which leads me to the next gift Vs. 8 for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit Word of wisdom a divine understanding or insight given in time of need. It s been said that knowledge is the facts about something, but wisdom is the proper use of those facts. We need to pray when we get a word of knowledge that we also get a word of wisdom, so we know what to do with the knowledge. Knowledge is good but it s what you do with knowledge that is most important. Knowledge will say that little black furry critter is a skunk, but wisdom says run. Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding. Proverbs 4:7 (NKJV) Copyright 2013 Chris Fraley 5
Let me give you a New Testament example of this gift in operation within the church. It s the early church there has been a large number of Jewish converts that have come to the faith since Pentecost and the church in Jerusalem has a food ministry to the widows that are part of the flock. The demands upon the apostles have become challenging. And we see the gift of wisdom come into play; not just through one person, but among the entire leadership... Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word. And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch, whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them. Acts 6:1-6 (NKJV) They saw the importance of taking care of the widows and not just dropping it because it was taxing the apostles. So the Spirit of God speaks through the group of leaders and gives wisdom on what to do: raise up godly men, Spirit-filled men, men with a good reputation among the body, men who had servant s hearts, and let them take over the food ministry so that the Word of God and prayer were not neglected. It shows how important the Word and prayer were to the early church they knew if this was squeezed out for the sake of serving, then the church would dry up and the apostles would burn out. So the Spirit of God shows up with the gift of wisdom and they are given a solution: raise up some godly men to take care of this. Notice the effect Copyright 2013 Chris Fraley 6
Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith. Acts 6:7 (NKJV) The Word of God spread, people continued to come to Christ, the church grew in discipleship, and even some of the Jewish priests came to Christ. The word of wisdom removes the divisiveness that can exist between people and will result in peace. I have been in counseling sessions where I hear two people just ripping and shredding one another, and as I listen I start to pray, Lord, help me, these two people need wisdom today. I need wisdom today. And as I open my mouth, I don t exactly know what to say, but I start speaking and the Spirit of God grants the word of wisdom. It didn t come through a video series, it didn t come because I had four years of training in counseling, it didn t come because I have been married for twenty years it came through a supernatural intervention of the Holy Spirit. It was exactly what they needed and it brought clarity to all the chaos. I have been in board meetings where there was something we were all trying to figure out what was the Lord s will; what was the Lord s heart? and as we continued to talk it through someone would speak something that we absolutely knew was a word of wisdom, and it brought peace. We all knew it was the Lord speaking. Often, we will find the gift of wisdom flowing very naturally in our meetings, in our home fellowships, those of you that are teaching in the children s or youth ministries, and when you are serving in the counseling ministry. Listen to what the Word of God says to us about wisdom For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding Colossians 1:9 (NKJV) In speaking of the Father and the Son, we are told Copyright 2013 Chris Fraley 7
in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Colossians 2:3 (NKJV) If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. James 1:5 (NKJV) Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. Matthew 7:7 (NKJV) You and I have living in us, and working and flowing within the body of Christ, the greatest consultant in the universe! Today there are consultants for everything! Consultants for what color of paint to put on our kitchen walls, consultants for how to save our money or how to pay off debt, consultants for what house to buy! I saw a business card for someone who can consult you on your wardrobe a wardrobe consultant! Isn t it good to know that living in the heart of every believer and flowing through the body of Christ is the gift of wisdom wisdom that is supernatural, wisdom that can be trusted, wisdom that works. And most of all the cost is free. The gift of knowledge and the gift of wisdom two very important gifts that are desperately needed in the church today. They keep us pure, they help keep the unity, and they help us discern the Lord s will; they promote health and life, and keep the church moving in the right direction. Seamen cannot create the wind, but they can hoist their sails to welcome it; neither can we create the breath of the Spirit, but are we to miss it when it comes through failure to keep our sails unfurled? John Bunyan Wildwood, let s keep our sails open to the wind of the Spirit today; especially today, for we live in the last days and soon we will be departing Copyright 2013 Chris Fraley 8