The Evangelist Speaks

by Evangelist Carolyn Griffin

Gifts of the Holy Spirit
Part 3

Can you visualize a Supernatural September? In the midst of everything that is going on around us, we truly need the supernatural intervention of God.  As we continue our study on Spiritual Gifts, we are reminded that Paul identifies a Spiritual Gift as a supernatural ability bestowed on an individual by the Holy Spirit, not as a heightened natural ability. Thus, each gift is a manifestation of the Spirit, that is, visible evidence of His activity. We must remember that the Holy Spirit bestows the gifts to whom He wills as the occasion recommends from the divine viewpoint. God intervenes on our behalf as the Gifts of the Holy Spirit are manifested through members of the Body of Christ. In our last article we discussed the word of wisdom. Today, we continue with the Gifts of the Holy Spirit as they are listed in                      I Corinthians 12.

The word of knowledge is a supernatural revelation of information pertaining to a person or an event, given for a specific purpose, usually having to do with an immediate need. Like the word of wisdom, the word of knowledge is a tiny portion of God’s total knowledge supernaturally imparted by the Holy Spirit. This gift does not come by natural reasoning, education, or training but directly by the Holy Spirit, and it is operated only under God’s control. Throughout the scriptures we see the word of knowledge in operation. As we reference biblical accounts, we are able to see how this gift operates in the Body of Christ today. Jesus used the word of knowledge when he spoke to Nathanael about his character and location in John 1:47-48.  “Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him, and said of him, Behold, an Israelite indeed in whom is no deceit!  Nathanael saith unto Him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee. In the next verse Nathanael proclaims that Jesus is the Son of God. He then became a disciple. When Jesus revealed knowledge about the personal history of the woman of Samaria at the well in John 4:15-19, she also perceived that He was a prophet of God. She knew that this was not a natural revelation and that only God was able to reveal her past. Her response was to introduce others to Jesus. A word of knowledge can also reveal dishonesty as in the case of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5. When the Holy Spirit revealed their deception, they fell dead. Because of this, great fear came upon all who heard about it. The proper use of spiritual gifts will bring the true fear of God back into the land today.

It was a word of knowledge in Acts 9:10-12 given to a believer named Ananias that revealed to him that Saul was a chosen servant of God and that he should not fear him. He was given his exact name and location, and was able to know what Saul had seen in a vision and that he was praying. Ananias also received a directive word of wisdom to lay his hands on Saul that he might receive his sight. We can say that the rest is history because we not only read about the life of the Apostle Paul (formerly Saul), but we learn about God’s plan for our salvation, the Christian lifestyle, spiritual gifts and so much more from his writings in the New Testament. The word of knowledge gave Paul mental and spiritual preparation for the tremendous ordeals that he would face on his Christian journey. This supernatural gift also prepares us for what is to come.  A word of knowledge can also bring confirmation about things that God has perhaps been showing us by some other means. When a word of knowledge brings conviction of the truth, lives are forever changed. Holy Spirit revealed knowledge about a person’s past or present situations can draw them to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ or into a closer relationship with God the Father. Supernatural revelation of the divine will and plan of God brings peace in the midst of confusion, trials, tests, tribulations and storms.

I am not only visualizing, but declaring and decreeing a Supernatural September. God, speak to us and speak through us. We yield ourselves as your vessels so that we, the Body of Christ, may speak your divine will, purpose and plan in this hour. We welcome your supernatural intervention in our lives and the lives of those around us through the manifestation of spiritual gifts. We covet earnestly the best gifts.