Last Sunday, we looked at one of the revelation gifts: “The Word of Knowledge.” Today we are going to look at another revelation gift – the Word of Wisdom.”
There are two kinds of Wisdom: 1) General Wisdom, and 2) The Gift of the Word of wisdom.
What is general wisdom? General wisdom is the wisdom for dealing with the affairs of this life. James 1:5 says, “If any of you lacks the wisdom to deal in the affairs of life, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraided not; and it shall be given him.”
How is it obtained? General Wisdom is gained through the knowledge of God’s Word. For instance, in the beginning of Joshua’s ministry, God told him that the key to success would lie in meditating on the Word of God, and by so doing, he would obtain wisdom on how to deal with the affairs of this life (Josh. 1:8).
Another translation puts Joshua 1:8 as follows, “…thou shall make thy way prosperous and thou shall be able to deal wisely in the affairs of life.”
Is General Wisdom available to all or to a select few? “General wisdom” is available to everyone who will ask for it (Jam. 1:5). But the gift of the Word of Wisdom is not given to everyone (1 Cor. 12:8).
Is General Wisdom different from knowledge? Yes! While knowledge is the accumulation of facts and information, general wisdom is the practical application of that knowledge to navigate the complexities of life, and achieve a positive outcome.
Here is the truth: When God sees it fit to reveal His will, His purpose and plan to man in a supernatural way, He does so by this supernatural manifestation of the Word of Wisdom.
What then is the gift of the Word of Wisdom? The Word of Wisdom is, a supernatural revelation by the Spirit of God concerning the divine purpose of God in the mind and will of God. In this way God reveals His plan and purpose for the future. It is a revelation of the future given to us through the Holy Spirit.
God has all wisdom and all knowledge. He knows the end from the beginning (Isa. 46:10). He knows everything, but never reveals to anybody everything He knows. He just gives to the one He decides to give a WORD of what He knows. That is to say that God reveals to man only the fragment, or the part, that He wants him to know.
Examples of the manifestation of the Word of Wisdom abound in the Scriptures:
1. Noah received a Word of Wisdom. The gift of the Word of Wisdom was used to warm people concerning future judgment or danger. For instance, Noah received a Word of Wisdom concerning danger and future judgment on the world through flood, and he built the ark to save his household (Gen. 6:13-18).
The same was true for Lot and his family who were saved when God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen. 19:29).
2. In Genesis 37:5–11 Joseph received a Word of Wisdom through a dream. This revealed God’s plan and purpose for him for the future (Gen. 37:5-11). God spoke to Joseph in dreams concerning his future (Gen. 37-50).
Joseph knew about his calling and God’s plan and purpose for his life through the Word of Wisdom. In Genesis 45:5-7 Joseph said to his brothers, “Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life. 6 For these two years hath the famine been in the land: and yet there are five years, in the which there shall neither be earing nor harvest. 7 And God sent me before you to preserve your posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.”
3. In Acts 11:27-30 prophet Agabus prophesied and foretold a great famine throughout all the world.
4. In Acts 21:10-11 prophet Agabus received another Word of Wisdom. He foretold what would happen to Apostle Paul in Jerusalem and it certainly did come to pass.
Notice the word “so shall….” in verse 11. “Shall” refers to the future. The Word of Wisdom tells of something that is going to happen in the future.
When any revelation is given by the unction of the Holy Spirit, it is always a Word of Wisdom, a Word of Knowledge, or the discerning of spirits because these are the only three gifts of revelation.
5. Paul also received a Word of Wisdom. The Word of Wisdom is also given to assure of coming deliverance in time of calamity.
On his way to Rome in a ship to appeal to Caesar, a violent storm arose. He had a Word of Wisdom for those on board the ship before they ever set sail. He said, “…I perceive that the voyage will be with hurt and much damage….” (Acts 27:10). At the time Paul said this there was no sign of any danger, so they ignored what he said and still set sail.
If those in the ship had listened to what God was saying through Apostle Paul, they would not have lost their ship and goods. Failing to heed his warning they eventually had to lose everything. All hope that they would be saved was gone. But in the midst of such a hopeless situation, Paul stood his ground because he has heard from Heaven (Acts 27:23-26).
This wisdom concerning the future which Paul had was by supernatural revelation. God revealed it to Paul and Paul in turn revealed it to those who were with him on the ship what was going to happen.
6. The Book of Revelation is a Word of Wisdom. Therefore, the Word of Wisdom is a revelation concerning the FUTURE. This piece of information is given to us through the Holy Spirit of God.
The Word of Wisdom and the Word of Knowledge often operate together both in the Old Testament and in the New Testament. We can see how both of them flow 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 manifestation. And their prophecies foretold of events in the near future as well as events in the distant future.
Examples of the Word of Wisdom and the Word of Knowledge operating together abound in the Scriptures:
1. In Revelations 2 and 3 we find the Word of Wisdom and the Word of Knowledge operating together. The present spiritual condition of the churches in Asia Minor was revealed to John through a Word of Knowledge in a vision. Then the Lord went on to give Apostle John a Word of Wisdom by telling each one of the seven churches what to do in the future, according to His plan and purpose for them.
2. Also, in Acts 9:10 -16 we find the Word of Wisdom and the Word of Knowledge operating together. Acts 9:10-16 says, “…11 So the Lord said to him, "Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, FOR BEHOLD, HE IS PRAYING (this is Word of Knowledge)..." …15 But the Lord said to him, "Go, FOR HE IS A CHOSEN VESSEL OF MINE TO BEAR MY NAME BEFORE GENTILES, KINGS, AND THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL. 16 FOR I WILL SHOW HIM HOW MANY THINGS HE MUST SUFFER FOR MY NAME'S SAKE” (this is Word of Wisdom).
Conclusion: As we learn to yield to God, His plans and His purposes will be revealed to us through the Word of Wisdom as His Spirit wills.Watch out for the next edition of Good News from the Pulpit.
· Your friend, I. I. Madubunyi (Senior Pastor, HOG).
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