Today, we want to look at one of the revelation gifts - “THE WORD OF KNOWLEDGE!” In 1 Corinthians 12:1-11, the Scriptures listed the Gifts of the Holy Spirit.
What is revelation? Revelation is the act of revealing something so that all people can know about it. Revelation speaks of bringing to light that which was formerly hidden [a secret] (Deut. 29:29).
What is the Word of Knowledge? The Word of Knowledge is the revelation of facts past or present, in the mind of God the Father concerning people, places, or things. These things were not learned through the efforts of the natural mind.
The Word of Knowledge is a supernatural impartation of knowledge of certain facts in the mind of God the Father.
Be reminded that this revelation concerns either what happened before now (the PAST) or what is happening right now (the PRESENT).
Here God gives man 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. It is used to supernaturally impart to a person or group a fact of knowledge, which as at that moment is otherwise unknown.
What is the purpose of the Word of Knowledge? 1) To bring supernatural encouragement. 2) To give confirmation to what God has already been saying or doing. 3) To give insight and understanding of what is ahead in the purposes of God. 4) To help in counselling/evangelism. 5) To unlock hindrances to healing/unanswered prayers. 6) To give strategies in spiritual warfare. 7) To reveal where sin is being covered up. 8) To open up a meeting or situation for God to move.
Examples of the Word of Knowledge abound in the Scriptures:
1. Jesus received the Word of Knowledge regarding the woman at the Well (Jn. 4:7, 9-10, 13-19, 25-26). Jesus asked this woman to go get her husband. When she said that she didn’t have a husband, Jesus told her that she was right about that. That she has had five husbands, and the man she was living with right now, isn’t her husband (Jn. 4:17-18). Jesus knew that by the inward revelation – the Word of Knowledge. He used this gift to bring this woman to salvation.
2. In the Island of Patmos, John was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day and Jesus appeared to him in a vision (Rev. 1:10-20). The Word of Knowledge might come in the form of a vision. As was the case with Apostle John, Jesus revealed to him in a vision the spiritual condition of the churches in Asia Minor, as recorded in the Book of Revelations 2 and 3.
That was a Word of Knowledge in manifestation.
3. Apostle Peter received a Word of Knowledge concerning Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-4). Here the Word of Knowledge was used to expose corruption in the church.
It would have been alright if this couple had sold their property and given only half of the money to the church, but they lied about it so as to get the same praise that Barnabas received. They kept part of the money for themselves but said that they were giving the entire money to the church.
The entire transaction was revealed to Peter through a Word of Knowledge. Ananais’ wife Sapphira came in and the same thing happened to her. And both of them fell dead the same day.
4. Concerning Ananias, Acts 9:10-12 says, “Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, "Ananias." And he said, "Here I am, Lord." 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 present; what is happening right now]. 12 And in a vision he has seen [this is past tense] a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight."
This Scripture speaks of what is happening right now: he is praying and, in a vision, he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight.
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, evangelist or teacher. The Bible calls him a disciple. He was simply a member of the church at Damascus.
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 moment. Ananias couldn’t have known that Saul has had a vision in which he had seen a man called Ananias coming in and laying his hands on him that he might receive his sight. Ananias couldn’t have known this any other way except by supernatural revelation of a certain fact in the mind of God. He knew it by the Word of Knowledge.
5. The Word of Knowledge can also come in the form of a trance. In a trance God spoke to Apostle Peter in the town of Joppa of what is happening in the present (Acts 10:9-19).
Apostle Peter received a supernatural revelation – “Behold, three men seek thee” (Acts 10:19). Peter had no idea that three men were looking for him. He had fallen into a trance and had seen the vision of the sheet descending out of heaven. While Peter was thinking about what that vision meant, the Holy Spirit told him that three men were looking for him. The men were already standing at the gate. Peter had no way of knowing that these men were at the gate except by the Spirit of God.
Sometimes the Word of Knowledge comes by an inward revelation. It can also come by an audible voice, by the Spirit of God speaking to you. It can also come in the form of a dream. It may also come through tongues and interpretation of tongues, or through the gift of prophecy. Or an angel might come to deliver a Word of Knowledge to you. A Word of Knowledge may also be accompanied by a Word of Wisdom.
Interpretation of tongues is not usually the vehicle through which the Word of Knowledge manifests itself in public assemblies, except perhaps through the ministry gift of diversities of tongues (1 Cor 12:28). This is because the ministry gift of diversities of tongues is more closely related to the office of the prophet.
6. The gift of the Word of Knowledge was also in manifestation in the Old Testament. Prophet Elisha received a Word of Knowledge concerning Gehazi. Here the Word of Knowledge was used to expose a hypocrite (2 Ki. 5:21-24). Naaman was so thrilled to be healed that he gave him twice the amount of money Gehazi asked for. And Gehazi hid it because he was a thief as well as a hypocrite and a liar.
When Elisha asked Gehazi where he has been, he said, “…Thy servant went nowhere” (2 Ki 5:25). And Elisha said, “Went not my heart [spirit-man] with thee, when the man turned again from his chariot to meet thee?......” (2 Ki 5:26).
Here comes the question: How could Elisha be sitting in his own house and yet know what was going on several miles away? God revealed it to him through the Word of Knowledge.
Elisha also received a Word of Knowledge regarding Syria (2 Ki. 6:8-12). Every time an enemy would lay an ambush against Israel, the prophet of God would tell Israel their plans. Finally, this king got his servants together and said, “We must have a traitor among us who always gives us away” (2 Ki. 6:11). And the servants replied, “No, it is not us. A prophet of God in Israel tells the king what you speak in your bedroom.” The plans were revealed to him supernaturally by the Word of Knowledge, and it saved Israel from danger.
The Word of Knowledge can be used as a mighty aid in effectual prayer, either for God’s servants in distress, or for those in need of spiritual help.
The Word of Knowledge can also be used to reveal sickness and the presence of an evil spirit.
Conclusion: By the manifestation of the gift of the Word of Knowledge the Church can be purified, the distressed comforted, the saints gladdened, lost property recovered, the enemy’s plans defeated, and the Lord Jesus Christ glorified.
Watch out for the next edition of Good News from the Pulpit.
· Your friend, I. I. Madubunyi (Senior Pastor, HOG) 12.07.2026 @ the HQs
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