Luke 6:38 (NKJV)
.38 Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”
Teachings
Here are various teachings which have been compiled by me and shared with you all. I encourage anyone with specific doctrinal or biblical questions to contact me. I pray you are truly blessed by these words.
To Wait...
Posted: January 17, 2015
“They looked to Him and were radiant; their faces shall never blush for shame or be confused.
This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.” Psalm 34:5-6
We need to receive the life of God; to be nourished that Jesus Himself continually joins Himself to you. It is a joining and a joining every day. He uses this word wait, those who wait for the Lord; those who wait upon the Lord, then have a renewed strength.
Wait- our idea is in a line in a supermarket or waiting in traffic or in rush hour and you are waiting, sitting in traffic, waiting, waiting. This is not what this means.
Wait in the bible has 2 to 3 meanings and they do come together.
#1. It is an old word and you back to its origins. It means is to bind together. It is braiding. Taking hair and braid it. That is the original. Take it and binding it together. Making 3 strand into two strands into one strands. Binding together.
#2. Also means to collect or gather together into one place. Bringing together into one. In the Hebrew it is also used in Genesis one in our bible it says he gathered all the waters together into one place and called it the sea (when brought together in binding, expectancy and into one place of power to perfection). The word in the Hebrew is wait.
#3.The most popular meaning is to expect; expecting but always has in it eagerness. Excitement; enthusiasm so it means to expect or to look eagerly or enthusiastically. It is an expectancy. It also means that you linger.
You so want to meet this person or you so want this to happen you linger just five more minutes to see them.To bind together. Waiting upon God produces this. You are bound together with God.
If I were to take a little strand of wool and then two great pieces of twine and braid them together then that little piece of wool takes on the strength of the twine and it becomes as strong as the twine. That is the idea that you, little human you, you are braided together with God and as you are braided together with God; you take on His strength and you take on his wisdom and you can do the things that only God can do. He is doing in you and through you and by you. You have been effectively functionally braided together so your weakness is lost inside the strength of God. Your inability is swallowed up by the ability of God Your braided. That is the meaning of the word wait.
I will thus expect of God. I am expecting, it has that upward look of expectancy in the object of your look. You are waiting, expecting, it is the wait of any minute now. I am waiting expecting that He will reveal Himself to me in such a fashion that will be braided in this instance as in every other instance It is this expectancy that doesn't want to give up a minute, I will keep on waiting. I will keep on waiting, because of my excitement as I thus wait expecting that God will reveal Himself in this situation. This isn't standing in line. This is excitement. This is an enthusiasm at the heart of my being; it is sitting at the edge of my chair, any minute now I am expecting, I am waiting,I am waiting for that living word that God will speak into my spirit. He will speak to me a word of love that will give me strength for this moment and swallow up my exhaustion He will give to me a word that is radiant with His light that will shed light on this situation and I will know what I have to do. I am waiting for his word of life that will speak into me that will swallow up my exhaustion. I am waiting. If you wait expectant, it is because you do indeed expect to happen.
Gifts of Miracles
Posted: January 15, 2015
' To another the working of miracles; ' 1 Corinthians 12:9.
What is the gift of the Working of Miracles?
1) A miracle (Gr. dunamis) can be defined as a supernatural act of the Holy Spirit that cannot be explained by logic.
A miracle is either:
a. A creative work of the Holy Spirit, or
b. An act of the Holy Spirit that defies the laws of nature.
2) The gift is called the gift of ‘working of miracles’.
‘Workings’ (Gr. energema) means ‘the energising power to work a miracle’:
c. It is the empowering of the believer by the Holy Spirit to meet a need at a particular time.
d. It is God who empowers – it is the believer who acts.
‘Workings of Miracles’ means this is more than ‘prayer for a miracle’.
The believer must act ‘in the name of Jesus’.
The difference between the "RECEIVING" of miracles and the "WORKING" of miracles
A. RECEIVING
1. In the realm of healing, many times miracles are received, but they are not "workings" of miracles, they are healing miracles.
2. Many times miracles are received through the gift of faith or general believer's faith, but this is not the "working" of miracles.
3. "Receiving" implies faith and obedience on the part of the reci¬pient. Faith is the means by which we receive from God.
B. WORKING
1. "Working" is an active word. Webster's Dictionary defines "work" as "exertion of strength or faculties to accomplish something."
2. Working involves action, a use of energy on the part of a person or instrument
3. Work must have an initiating and a participating force
VI. The Purpose of the Working of Miracles
A. God demonstrates Himself as God (l Kings 18:20-39; Acts 5:1-5)
B. God judges the hardness of men's hearts(Exodus 3:19-20; Acts 8:13)
C. God meets needs
1. Manna and Water
2. Feeding Five-Thousand
3. Widow supplied in drought
D. God brings assurance of His Sovereignty and Power to His people (Exodus 4:5)
E. God attests to His servants through miracles (Acts 2:22)
F. God confirms the preached word of God with miracles(Mark 16:20)
G. God brings deliverance to His people
1. Parting of the Red Sea
2. The Three Hebrews and the Fiery Furnace
3. Jesus stills the storm
VII. Old Testament Examples of the Working of Miracles
A. Exodus 7-12 Miraculous plagues of Egypt
B. Exodus 14:21-31 Dividing of the Red Sea
C. Joshua 10:12-14 Sun and Moon standing still for Joshua
D. Judges 14:5-6 Samson slays a lion
E. Judges 15:14-15 Samson slays 1,000 men with the jawbone of an ass
F. Judges 16:29-30 Samson dislocated the two middle pillars of the great Philistine temple
G. 1 Samuel 17:34-35 David slays a lion and a bear
H. 1 Samuel 17:37, 48-51 David slays the giant Goliath
I. 1 Kings 17:8-16 Widow's cruse of oil and a barrel of meal made to last throughout the drought
J. 1 Kings 18:17-39 Elijah calls fire out of heaven
I. 1 Kings 4:38-41 Poisonous soup made harmless
K. 2 Kings 2:8 Elijah parts the water with his mantle
M. 2 Kings 20:8-11 Sun goes backward on Hezekiah's sundial in response to Isaiah's prayer
Elijah’s 8 Miracles from 1 & 2 Kings.
1. Shutting heaven and stopping the rain for three years. (1 kings 17:1)
2. Oil multiplied, the grain increased daily, the widow woman. (1 Kings 17:2)
3. Widow's son raised from the dead. (1 Kings 17:22, 23)
4. Fire from heaven on the soaked altar. (1 Kings 18:38)
5. Rain returns. (1 Kings 18:45)
6. Fire brought down on the 51 soldiers. (2 Kings 1:10)
7. Fire brought down of the second 51 soldiers. (2 Kings 1:12)
8. The parting of the river Jordan. (2 Kings 2:8)
ELISHA'S SIXTEEN MIRACLES
From the Second Book of Kings
1. 2 Kings 2:14 Jordan river divided.
2. 2 Kings 2:21 Waters at the spring of Jericho healed.
3. 2 Kings 2:24 Bears from the woods, destroying the mockers.
4. 2 Kings 3:20 Water for kings.
5. 2 Kings 4:1-4 Oil for widow.
6. 2 Kings 4:16, 17 Gift of son.
7. 2 Kings 4:35 Raising the child from dead.
8. 2 Kings 4:41 Healing of the pootage
9. 2 Kings 4:43Bread multiplied.
10 2 Kings 5:10Naaman healed.
11 2 Kings 5:27Gehazi smitten.
12 2 Kings (6:6Caused the iron to swim.
13 2 Kings 6:17Sight to the blind.
14 2 Kings 6:18 Smiting blindness to these men.
152 Kings 6:20Restoring sight to these men.
16 2 Kings 13:21 Miracle after his death, man comes to life by touching Elisha's bones.
VIII. New Testament Examples of the Working of Miracles
A. Matthew 8:23-27 Jesus stills the storm
B. Matthew 14:25-33 Jesus and Peter walk on the water
C. Matthew 17:24-27 Tax money found in a fish's mouth
D. Matthew 21:17-22 Withering of the Fig Tree
E. Mark 6:38-44 Feeding of the Five Thousand
F. Mark 8:1-9 Feeding of the Four Thousand
G. Luke 5:1-11 First catch of fish
H. John 2:1-11 Water turned to wine
I. John 21:1-14 Second catch of fish
J. Acts 5:1-5 Ananias and Sapphira struck dead
K. Acts 8:39-40 Philip transported bodily by the power of the Holy Spirit
L. Acts 13:4-12 Elymas, the sorcerer, struck blind
M. Acts 28:3-6 Paul bitten by a poisonous snake and shakes it off with no harm
Examples of the Gift of Workings of Miracles
‘Workings of Miracles’ can be a provision in a time of need.
a car continuing to run without petrol.
food that multiplies
the last oil and flour that never runs out.
‘Workings of Miracles’ can be a creative work of the Holy Spirit. John 9: Man was born blind, but had no eye balls; creative miracle
The forming of an eye where there was none – Stephen Jeffreys
“I was brought up in the Pentecostal Church in England. Some years ago I spoke to an elderly man just before he died. I asked him to tell me something about the ministry of men he saw like Stephen Jeffreys.
He told me how Stephen Jeffreys prayed for a young baby who had no eye balls. When the baby was taken to hospital the doctors and nurses were amazed to see the eyes balls had begun to develop in the child’s eyes.’
This was more than ‘a healing’ this was ‘a creative miracle”.
‘Workings of Miracles’ can be a restoration of life.
The resurrection from the dead
It is reported that at least 14 people were raised from the dead under the ministry of Smith Wigglesworth.
‘Workings of Miracles’ can provide divine protection.
a supernatural deliverance when all natural possibilities of deliverance have gone.
A crash is inevitable – not enough space for the vehicle to avoid another one but it does.
There are Christians who do not believe such things can happen today, but why should it be thought strange for God to work miracles today when they are seen all through scripture. God is a miracle working God.
It is a deception of the enemy that has robbed the Church of the power of the Holy Spirit by teaching false doctrine.
The time of the gifts of the Holy Spirit has not passed, and these signs shall follow those who believe.
Main Points
1. The Gift of Working of Miracles in Scripture
In the Old Testament
The Gift of ‘Workings of Miracles’ is seen all through the Old Testament.
The Miracles did not happen automatically.
The Lord always says ‘What is that in your hand’ (Exodus 4:2)
God performed miracles when either Aaron or Moses stretched out his hand and the shepherd’s rod.(Ex 7:19; 8:5; 14:16)
The widow woman at Zarapheth used her last flour and oil but it never ran out.
The widow woman with two sons was told to borrow as many vessels as she could get – the last oil flowed filling every vessel. Then she had to sell the oil. The miracle power of God gave her a short term business to clear the debts and to supply her daily needs. (2 Kings 4:1-7)
Miracles defying natural laws – two incredible miracles are seen in the Old Testament.
They concerned the rotation of the earth around the sun, and the rotation of the moon around the earth.
Joshua commanded the sun and the moon to stand still. (Joshua 10:7-14)
The purpose for the miracle – to give more time for the Israelites to win the battle against the 5 kings.
The shadow went back 10 degrees. (2 Kings 20:1-11)
The purpose for the miracle - Hezekiah was given a sign confirming the word of Lord regarding his personal deliverance from sickness with the promise of living 15 years more, and the promise of Jerusalem’s deliverance and protection from the Assyrians.
In the Gospel of John
a. Jesus turned the water into wine (John 2)
Jesus told the servants to fill the water pots with water.
Then he told them to draw some out and give it to the ‘master of the feast’.
The miracle did not just happen by prayer.
The miracle had to be worked.
The water pots had not been filled with water and then the new wine had to be drawn out and served.
b. Feeding the 5000 (John 6)
Jesus told the disciples to give food to the people.
They divided the boy’s food and it was multiplied as they continued to divide it.
The only time the disciples held a lot of food at one time was when they collected the leftovers.
When they distributed the food they always held a small portion.
c. The blind man received his sight. (John 9)
Jesus spat on the ground and made clay which he put in his eye sockets.
The man washed and came back seeing.
People were not sure who he was – change of appearance.
d. Raising of Lazarus after he had been dead for four days (John 11)
Jesus called with a loud voice ‘Lazarus come forth’. (John 11:43)
In the Acts of the Apostles
1) Healing – power enabling the lame man to walk (Acts 3:1-10).
This was more than ‘gifts of healings’.
This was ‘the gift of workings of miracles’.
The man had never walked.
Peter took him by the hand and lifted him up.
He went walking and leaping and praising God into the Temple. This was a miracle.
Miracles often have two results:
i) A large number believe
ii) Persecution
2) Judgment in the Church - Death of Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-10)
The deception of Ananias and Sapphira would have stopped the move of God.
Peter probably only knew about it through ‘a Word of Wisdom’.
When Peter told Ananias he had not lied to men but to God – Ananias fell dead.
3 hours later his wife came. Peter asked her if she sold the land for a certain amount.
She lied as her husband had. Peter then declared that she would be carried out dead in the same way as her husband had been.
Ananias and Sapphira gave money to the disciples but they lied.
The effect of this miracle was ‘great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things’. (Acts 5:11)
Ananias and Sapphira were like Nadab and Abihu (Leviticus 10:1-2) the sons of Aaron who were killed by the Holy Spirit because they treated ‘the fire of God’ with contempt.
3) Deliverance – disciples miraculously released from Prison (Acts 5:17-25)
The disciples were put in prison.
An angel of the Lord opens the doors. This is a miracle because the doors remained closed; the guards remained in their places.
The disciples were found preaching in the temple.
4) Raising the dead – Tabitha (Dorcas) (Acts 9:36-42)
The woman had died.
Peter goes into her alone.
Peter prays and then says ‘Tabitha arise’
This is the gift of workings of miracles.
Compare: Peter miraculously freed from prison (Acts 12:3-19)
This is not the Gift of ‘Workings of Miracles’
This is a miraculous answer to prayer.
Peter is delivered from prison by an angel.
His chains fall off his hands.
Walked past the guards.
Iron gate of the prison opened by itself.
Peter went to the home of John Mark’s mother where the disciples were praying.
In this instance Peter is delivered in answer to prayer.
The gift of ‘Workings of Miracles’ is initiated by the believer.
2. Testimonies concerning the operation of the gift.
Church History: The ministry of John Walsh, the son-in-law of John Knox.
John Welsh of Ayr (c.1568 – c.1622) was a great man of prayer. He married Elizabeth Knox, the daughter of John Knox.
There are many testimonies of John Welsh operating in the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
This is an extract from John Howie ‘Scots Worthies’, 1775.
‘John Welch then fell down before the pallet, and cried to the Lord with all his might, and sometimes looking upon the dead body, he continued to wrestle with the Lord, till at length the youth opened his eyes, and cried out to Welch, whom he distinctly knew, “O sir, I am all whole, but my head and legs!” These were the places hurt with the pinching. When Welch perceived this, he called his friends; and showed them the dead man restored to life again, to their great astonishment.’ (Taken from George Jeffreys ‘Healing Rays’, 1932)
Missionary Story: Testimony - Congo Evangelistic Mission (1933)
A witch doctor in the Congo stole items from the home of an evangelist saying he had what he needed to perform a curse on the native evangelist.
The witch doctor said the evangelist would be dead in the morning.
The evangelist got up in the morning and rang the bell for the morning prayer meeting.
Suddenly there was a scream from the witch doctor’s house.
The witch doctor who tried to curse the evangelist was found dead on the floor.
Extract from ‘God Working With Them’ by W.F.P.Burton (Congo Evangelistic Mission:1933)
3. Why is this gift necessary today?
The gift is necessary today for the same reasons the gift was used in scripture.
a) For supernatural provision - It is a gift for God’s people in times of great need.
When there is no means of natural provision, the Lord is able to provide through the ‘working of miracles’.
Question: Should we expect the Holy Spirit to move miraculously in situations such as unexpected guests at a meal table?
Needing the food to be multiplied. We should expect the Lord to undertake at all times.
The Lord always asks first ‘What do you have in your hand?’
The Lord provides through natural means and in unusual cases by supernatural means.
When our means have been exhausted then we can trust the Lord to act on our behalf.
Workings of Miracles are not everyday occurrences.
If we do not expect the Holy Spirit to do these things we will never see them.
It is the gift of ‘workings of miracles’ - the believer must activate the gift as the Holy Spirit moves.
b) For supernatural deliverance - the Holy Spirit is able to miraculously protect the believer.
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego had no fear of the fiery funace because they said ‘Our God is able to deliver us but even if He doesn’t we will not bow’
Believers must have the same character with the Gifts of the Holy Spirit.
We will not bow the knee to those who say ‘the gifts of the Holy Spirit have ceased and God no longer works miracles’.
Our God is able – the gifts are given to those who believe.
c) For supernatural testimony to the truth of the gospel. The preaching of the gospel is confirmed by signs following. The gospel is the power of God unto salvation. Those who say the gifts ceased when the New Testament was completed have allowed Satan to rob the Church of wonderful signs following.
‘Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever’ (Hebrews 13:8) What He did in the gospels He is able to do today through believers. Jesus said, ‘Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believes on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.’ (John 14:12)
Word of Wisdom
Posted: 10th Janurary, 2015
Corinthians 12:8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;” – 1 Corinthians 12:8
In this verse, the Greek logos sophia ( ) translates to “word of wisdom” and logos gnosis ( ) translates “word of knowledge.” While the translation is clear, the meaning and application is less so.
There are three types of wisdom:
• The wisdom of God (I Corinthians 2:6-7)
• The wisdom of the world (I Corinthians 2:6)
• The wisdom of man (Ecclesiastes 1:16-18)
The gift of the word of wisdom is the application of knowledge that God gives you ( I Corinthians 2:6-7). This type of wisdom is a gift which cannot be gained through study or experience and should by no means try to replace them. The gift of the word of wisdom is seeing life from God's perspective. As a Christian exercises this gift, he begins to develop a fear of the Lord. This is the "beginning of wisdom" according to Proverbs 1:7.
The gift of the word of wisdom is also the revealing of prophetic future; it is speaking hidden truths of what is not known. It is a supernatural perspective to ascertain the divine means for accomplishing God's will in a given situation, and is a divinely given power to appropriate spiritual intuition in problem solving.
Furthermore, this gift involves having a sense of divine direction, being led by the Holy Spirit to act appropriately in a given set of circumstances, and rightly applying knowledge.
The gift of wisdom is the wisdom of God. It is the supernatural impartation of facts; it is not natural. You can't earn it. It is received from God through prayer (Ephesians 1:17).
The gift of the word of wisdom works interactively with the other two revelation gifts: knowledge and discernment.
What is the Word of Wisdom?
1. The supernatural ability to apply knowledge. How, when and where to do something and maybe even why. In other words, a supernatural knowledge of what to do and how to do it.
2. It is spontaneous- It is given at the will of the spirit at the right time and mostly it occurs when we are not expecting it to occur. We do not know when the spirit of God is going to bring us a word of wisdom
3. It is similar to a miracle - If we are used in this way, we will know that there is no way we could have figured this out on our own or come up with this without supernatural intervention.
4. How does the word of wisdom come forth? Always by the Holy Spirit mostly when He just speaks to our spirit at a given time. It can come by revelation knowledge. Revelation means an unveiling of something that was once hidden. God just opens up our understanding in a miraculous spontaneous way when we least expect it. Occasionally God may bring this through an audible voice, vision or dream. I have never experienced the latter three that I can recall.
5. The purpose for God using us with this gift or word of wisdom is to keep us from getting ourselves into trouble, to warn us of trouble, to get us out of trouble we are already in, to show us His will, to lead us the way that is fruitful and will cause us to do God's will, to help us make the right decisions and to help us win the lost to Christ, edify believers and probably many other things my mind cannot think of at the moment.
A good definition of the word of wisdom is the supernatural ability to apply knowledge the right way. This gift can be a verbal gift but it is not really considered a gift of utterance. We can receive a word of wisdom and keep silent unlike a message in tongues and interpretation or a message of prophecy. Usually we will at the right time share the word of wisdom. This word can come by a dream, revelation, a vision, some have heard the audible voice of God, but usually it is the still small voice of the Holy Spirit speaking to our own spirit.
Still we must always remember to constantly seek God for these things to be manifest among us so the work Jesus told us to do will not fail to be done among us as a body of believers.
Discernment is always needed in these gifts so that we can determine whether or not someone is speaking by the Holy Spirit or nowledge is concerned, are really some of the most stupid people in the world. They do the most stupid things.
The list of the gifts of the Spirit begins with a Word of Wisdom.
The fact that a Word of Wisdom is listed first reveals the important character of the gift.
A Word of Wisdom is not natural wisdom that can be derived from knowledge and experience.
A Word of Wisdom is supernaturally imparted wisdom from the Spirit of God that can only be known through the omniscience of God.
1) A Word of Wisdom may reveal the outworking of God’s eternal plan and purpose of God.
2) A Word of Wisdom may reveal what is going to happen in the future so that God’s people can act accordingly.
3) A Word of Wisdom may reveal an action that must be to taken because of an event yet to happen.
Comparison between a Word of Wisdom and a Word of Knowledge.
A Word of Wisdom is a revelation relating to what will happen. It concerns things in the future.
A Word of Knowledge is a revelation of what is happening or has happened. It concerns things present and things past.
A Word of Wisdom provides information concerning the plan and purpose of God so that a person can act with confidence and assurance.
A Word of Knowledge provides information to guide and to break down barriers.
A Word of Wisdom provides information concerning an action that needs to be taken because of a future event, or information about a future event allowing the person to decide what to do.
A Word of Knowledge provides information regarding current events so a person can decide what should be done.
Examples from the Bible
Remember when Paul was on a ship bound for Rome. He was actually a prisoner. The ship was in trouble and the life of everyone on board was in jeopardy. I believe Paul received a word of wisdom and instructed all the men to not leave the ship and their lives would be spared. That could also have been a word of knowledge in that he knew that if they didn't do as instructed, they could be killed. The word of wisdom gave the instructions on how to save lives. We can read the story in Acts 27.
Paul was used many times in the book of Acts in the word of wisdom.
In the Old Testament we can remember Elisha receiving a word of wisdom when they were threatened with the armies of Moabites. Elisha I believe received a supernatural word from God to dig a valley of ditches and fill every one of them with water. When the Moabites saw the reflection of the water, they thought it was blood and that Israel was defeated. They went down unprepared to fight and to take spoil only to be defeated by Israel.
The word of wisdom is a little different than the word of knowledge yet it is similar.
Examples of a Word of Wisdom
• From Scripture
(a) To warn a king of an enemy's plan of destruction (2 Kings 6, 9-12).
(b) To enlighten and encourage a discouraged servant of the Lord (1 Kings 19, 14-18).
(c) To expose a hypocrite (2 Kings 5, 20-27).
(d) To convince a sinner of the need of a Savior (John 4, 18,19,29.)
(e) To discover a man in hiding (1 Samuel 10, 22).
(f) To indicate a man in need (Acts 9, 11).
(g) To reveal corruption in the Church (Acts 5, 3).
(h) To indicate a suitable place for a meeting of God's people (Mark 14, 13-15).
(i) To know men's thoughts (John 2, 24; 1 Samuel 9,19)
Examples of a Word of Wisdom:
A Word of Wisdom can be:
1) …a warning of a future disaster like 9/11
2) …a warning of danger such as avoiding a car accident.
3) …an encouragement concerning the future, for instance, an end to a time of trial.
4) …an encouragement regarding the character of a persons ministry
5) …a revelation of what God will do concerning a persons ministry.
6) …a word of guidance regarding whether to do something or not to do something.
7) …a word giving information regarding the future so that we are not surprised by what happens.
The Holy Spirit may give a Word of Wisdom to warn us so that we will not…
1) …enter into a wrong association – people can appear honest when they are not.
2) …enter into a business deal that will be disastrous – we do not know future events that may happen.
3) …take a particular person with us on a particular trip – a wrong person can cause big problems especially in regard to the gospel.
We do not have to know why; we must trust the Holy Spirit.
Similarly, the Holy Spirit can lead us through a Word of Wisdom to…
1) …associate with the right person;
2) …do a particular business transaction;
3) …take someone with us on a particular trip.
In the prophecy concerning Jesus Christ, that righteous branch that shall arise out of the stem of Jesse, Isaiah 11:2 says,
And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.
So on Jesus there would rest that spirit of wisdom.
Now how was this word of wisdom manifested in the life of Christ? I think probably the most classic manifestation of this gift of the word of wisdom is when the Pharisees were seeking to trap Him and turn the people against Him. And they were sitting around trying to figure out ways by which they could catch Him in His speech. They were always asking leading questions by which they were hoping to trap Him and to turn the people against Him. But Jesus was always wise enough to give answers so that they could not really pin any charges against Him. But they finally came up with what they thought was a Catch-22 situation.
"Let's ask Him in front of the people if it is lawful to pay taxes to Caesar." Knowing that every Jew hated paying taxes to Caesar, it was a sore spot-it was an irritant. "And if He answers 'Yes, it is lawful,' then He will lose His popular appeal among the people. They will all shun Him. If He says 'No,' then we can report Him to the Roman government because He is leading a tax revolt and He will be charged by Rome for the crime." They thought they had the perfect question.
So they came to Jesus and they said, "We know you are a straight shooter. You always tell the truth. You are not a respecter of persons. I mean, if it is true, it is true. We want to know, is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar?" Jesus said, "Got a coin?" They gave Him a coin and He held it up and He said, "Whose image is that on the coin?" They said, "It is Caesar's." He flipped it back to them and said, "Alright, give to Caesar what is Caesar's. And give to God what things are God's." With a word of wisdom Jesus just answered the situation so righteously. It is just the gift of the word of wisdom.
In Solomon the word of wisdom was manifested when there were two women who came to him both claiming that a baby was theirs. And so here they were arguing with each other and the one was saying, "You are lying." And the other was saying, "You are lying. It is my baby." "No, it is my baby." So Solomon said to his guard there, "Take your sword and cut the baby in half and give each one half of it." And the one who was not the true mother said, "Fair enough." The other one said, "Oh no, give the baby to her." Solomon said, "No, give the baby to her. She is the true mother. She was not willing to sacrifice the baby to settle the argument." This was the word of wisdom and the wisdom of Solomon was spoken of abroad.
In the New Testament in Acts 15, certain Judaizers had gone to the Gentile church in Antioch and had created a ruckus. They were trying to tell the Gentile believers that unless they converted to Judaism, unless they accepted and followed the law of Moses and were circumcised, they could not be saved. And so Paul and Barnabas went to these fellows who were creating division there in Antioch and they came back to Jerusalem and the first church council was called in order to determine what relationship the Gentile believers should have to the Mosaic law. Peter gave his testimony of how God led him to the Gentiles and how they received the Holy Spirit. Paul and Barnabas testified of their ministry among the Gentiles and the marvelous miracles that God had wrought among the Gentiles. And finally James spoke up and he said,
Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God: But that we write unto them that they abstain from pollution of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood. For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath day. Then pleased it the apostles and elders with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely Judas surnamed Barsabus, and Silas, chief men among the brethren. (Acts 15:19-22)
These were men who came with a message from the church. But you see the solution that James gave was the word of wisdom and the result was this division was cured. And everyone was satisfied with the way that James proposed the solution to a divisive issue.
Earlier in Acts 6 a dispute arose concerning the welfare program of the church. The Jewish widows who were living by the Greek or Hellenistic culture, felt that their widows were not getting the same kind of treatment as those other widows who were living by the Hebrew culture. And they came to the apostles and they complained, "There is not a fairness in the distribution of the church's welfare program. There is a favoritism that is being shown."
Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, the whole church. They said,
It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost 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. (Acts 6:2-4)
You see it is the exercise of the gift of the word of wisdom. And what it does is remove the divisiveness. It removes the rancor between the people and settles it. It is a peaceful solution. Everybody is happy with it-the word of wisdom.
Often times within the church there are divisions that arise. And how necessary it is when these divisions do arise, that there is someone with the word of wisdom, the gift of the Spirit, to offer a solution that will be acceptable or amenable to both sides, so that both sides are happy and division does not take place. Many congregations of God's people have been severely divided because of the lack of the gift of the word of wisdom.
Now later in Acts 6, we read of the word of wisdom as it was manifested in the life of Stephen who was one of those who was appointed to oversee the distribution of the church's welfare.
And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people. Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and the Cyrenians, and the Alexandrians, and them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen. And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake. (Acts 6:8-10)
This is the gift of the word of wisdom. They could not handle it. They were not able to handle that spirit of the word of wisdom by which Stephen spoke to them.
....When Paul was praying for the churches, often his prayer was that God might grant to them wisdom. In praying for the Ephesians in 1:17 he prayed,That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him.
.....In Colossians 1:9 Paul prayed for the church at Colossi,
For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.
James wrote:
.....If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. (James 1:5) James also told us, Yet ye have not, because you ask not. (James 4:2)
To me it is hard to understand why, when God has made available to us His wisdom, that we would rely upon our own and that we would make decisions without seeking His guidance and His wisdom. "In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths" (Proverbs 3:6). And I would like to suggest that that is the wisest thing you could ever do.
Have you ever made decisions that afterwards you rued the decision that you made? You thought, "Oh no. How could I have decided that? Look how it has turned out." And you usually say, "God, why did You let me get into this mess?" It is because you did not ask for wisdom- "Ask and it shall be given. Seek and ye shall find. Knock and it shall be opened" (Matthew 7:7). Men like Daniel asked God to give him wisdom and understanding in the dreams of Nebuchadnezzar. Ask for wisdom. You will discover that the Holy Spirit can speak through you and give to you a word of wisdom whereby you can be guided by the counsels of God.
It is yours. God will do it. It is a marvelous gift that God will give to you, that word of wisdom when you have been challenged by an unbeliever. God will give you that word of wisdom if you will just look to Him and seek His wisdom
Have you ever had an occasion where a person asked you a question and while they asked the question you were thoroughly stumped? You did not know the answer. And you sort of started off by saying, "Well, I will tell you, that is an issue that a lot of people have been troubled by and I think that..." And as you are sort of stalling, suddenly an answer comes in your mind. And as you are explaining it, you marvel. You think, "Well, that is right! My, that is wonderful! Yeah, that is the way it is." It happens to me all the time. The word of wisdom, how that the Lord gives it to you and it is just the right answer.
God is willing to impart to you His wisdom. The Bible tells us that "in Christ are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" (Colossians 2:3). And they are available to you for your asking.
Main Points
1. A Word of Wisdom in Scripture.
The Book of Acts.
a) Ananias - Revealing the plan and purpose of God in regard to ministry.
Paul was known for his hatred of the Church.
No Christian would have approached him without supernatural revelation.
Acts 9:15-16. Word of Wisdom came through Ananias to Paul.
Chosen vessel.
Will face persecution.
• Gifts operating together.
Ananias received a Word of Knowledge concerning Paul’s location – He is at the Street called Straight.
Acts 9:11.Then Ananias was sent by the Holy Spirit with a Word of Wisdom.
Also gifts of healing – Paul received his sight. Acts 9:12.
b) Agabus
Agabus was a prophet.
A prophet will operate the gifts of a Word of Wisdom and a Word of Knowledge.
• Revealing a future catastrophe. Famine. Acts 11:28
Church took action and made provision for poor in Jerusalem. Acts 11:29.
Word of Wisdom did not tell Church what to do. Church decided.
Combination of divine revelation and human reasoning.
• Revealing Paul’s future imprisonment. Acts 21:11.
Holy Spirit reveals what will happen.
Church wrongly tried to persuade Paul not to go.
Paul ignored their pleas.
Word of Wisdom was confirmed to Paul in every city by the believers.
Discussion: A Word of Wisdom must be used rightly.
It is possible to receive a Word of Wisdom and make wrong decisions because we misunderstand what the Holy Spirit is saying.
Knowledge and experience are necessary in understanding what the Holy Spirit is saying.
It is easy to move from a Word of Wisdom to give our own advice or thoughts.
This does not make a person a false prophet.
But it can bring discouragement when something does not happen - the misuse of this gift can also produce skepticism.
We must be careful not to mistake an emotional response to a particular situation or problem as a Word of Wisdom .
Examples from Church History
We find the Word of Wisdom in operation in Church history especially during times of revival.
The 16th century Reformation was a time of great revival.
The Word of Wisdom enables the Body of Christ to know the plan and purpose of God.
a) A Word of Wisdom will build up ministries.
This was seen in the Book of Acts when Ananias came to Saul of Tarsus (Acts 9:15-16) – Saul was the great enemy of the Christian believers but Ananias could approach him without fear because of a Word of Wisdom.
A Word of Wisdom will… Provide direction by revealing God’s plan and purpose. Recognize developing ministry gifts. Show what the Holy Spirit will do in the lives of others. Produce boldness so that the believer can be fearless in the face of trials, persecution and danger. Bring encouragement in the face of difficulties and trials.
b) A Word of Wisdom gives warning to the body of Christ so that the church can be prepared.
The Word of Wisdom enables the Church to take appropriate action before hand.
This was seen in the book of Acts when Agabus revealed by a Word of Wisdom that there would be a famine. Acts 11:28.
The action the Church took brought great blessing to the poor believers in Jerusalem.
A Word of Wisdom will…
• Reveal future events so preventative or supportive measures can be taken.
• Reveal times of difficulty and trials so the church will not be shaken by what is happening
• Reveal future attacks of the enemy so the church can be diligent in fulfilling its mission.
c) A Word of Wisdom can save lives, and prevent a tragedy or loss.
The Word of Wisdom enables believers to take preventative action.
This is seen in the Book of Acts when Paul was shipwrecked. Acts 27:31-32.
A Word of Wisdom will save lives by…
• Preventing an accident
• Preventing a crime
Prevent a person doing something that will have bad consequences.
If the Word of Wisdom is disobeyed the consequences may be disastrous. It is important to recognize when God speaks by a Word of Wisdom and act accordingly.
A Word of Wisdom
1) Was needed in the Acts of the Apostles to guide, warn, prepare and encourage the church.
2) Has been seen in operation throughout Church history.
3) Is necessary today to encourage the church especially during times of trial or persecution.
Examples from the Bible
Remember when Paul was on a ship bound for Rome. He was actually a prisoner. The ship was in trouble and the life of every one on board was in jeopardy. I believe Paul received a word of wisdom and instructed all the men to not leave the ship and their lives would be spared. That could also have been a word of knowledge in that he knew that if they didn't do as instructed, they could be killed. The word of wisdom gave the instructions on how to save lives. We can read the story in Acts 27.
Paul was used many times in the book of Acts in the word of wisdom.
In the Old Testament we can remember Elisha receiving a word of wisdom when they were threatened with the armies of Moabites. Elisha I believe received a supernatural word from God to dig a valley of ditches and fill every one of them with water. When the Moabites saw the reflection of the water, they thought it was blood and that Israel was defeated. They went down unprepared to fight and
John 4:16-17
"Jesus said to her, 'Go call your husband, and come back'. The woman answered him, 'I have no husband'."
Note the word of wisdom in how Jesus talked to this lady. He did not directly confront her with the knowledge of her lifestyle.
1 Kings 3:16-28
The story of Solomon and the two women who were disputing who's son had died. Solomon operated in wisdom to settle the dispute.
• Ezekiel was caught away into the Spirit for a revelation. (LS p. 65)
The Word of Wisdom to foretell of a drought and famine through Agabus, the Prophet: In the Book of Acts, we read that Agabus had prophesied and foretold that a drought and famine was coming (Acts 11:28). The people believed him because he was a man of integrity and had a proven ministry. When Agabus prophesied about the drought, the people began immediately to make preparations in order to help the saints who lived where the drought was coming. )
The Word of Wisdom to foretell of Paul's fate in Jerusalem:
Paul and his company were at Philip's house. "And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judaea, a certain prophet, named Agabus. And when he was come unto us, he took Paul's girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, THUS SAITH THE HOLY GHOST, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle,and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles." Acts 21:10, 11 "And when we heard these things, both we, and they of that place, be sought him (Paul) not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, what mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus." Acts: 21:12, 13
What Agabus revealed by the Spirit of God was a revelation of the will of God that was to happen in the future; therefore, it was a word of wisdom. Paul could not be persuaded not to go to Jerusalem, hence the "word" came to pass.
The Word of Wisdom in the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ:
In Matthew 24, Luke 21, and Mark 13, Christ foretold the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem which came a few years later, and the signs which would accompany His return to earth for His Church. Many of these things are coming to pass in our generation. Some of them have yet to come to pass. All of this is what the word of God's wisdom is - a revelation of the future.
The Word of Wisdom manifested through the Apostle John:
The Apostle John was caught up in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and the entire book of Revelation flashed before him.
Examples of Conditional Words of Wisdom:
Jonah
God spoke to the Prophet Jonah and gave him a word of wisdom that Nineveh was going to be destroyed if the people of that great city did not repent and turn to God. Jonah didn't care whether Nineveh was destroyed or not, and as aresult, he didn't want to go warn the people. God dealt with Jonah in the belly of the great fish for three days. Afterthis experience, he reluctantly went and preached to the people of Nineveh warning them of impending judgment if they didn't turn to God (Jonah 3:4) The people of Nineveh repented and judgment didn't fall on Nineveh in that generation.
Prophet Isaiah
Hezekiah, king of Judah was already "...sick unto death." God told Isaiah to convey a word of wisdom concerningHezekiah's future - his plan and purpose for his life "...set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live..."(2Kings 20:1) When Isaiah delivered the message, Hezekiah repented of his wrongdoings, cried out and prayed to God and reminded God how he had walked before him with a whole heart having kept his commandments but had missed it in certain areas. He repented. Before Isaiah could leave the courtyard, the word of the Lord came to him to return andtell Hezekiah, "...I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee:....And I will add unto thy daysfifteen years.." (2Kings 20:5,6)
If the Church was moving in the spiritual gifts of revelation - the word of wisdom, the word of knowledge, and the discerning of spirits - there would be no need for fortune-tellers, crystal ball gazers, Ouija boards, tea-leaf readers, palm readers, and all the other paraphernalia that the Devil uses to deceive the people of our generation. We are engulfed in the greatest wave of black magic and witchcraft this country has ever known. One reason for this is that the Church has not properly operated in the gifts of the Spirit. We have not used the weapons of our warfare to stop the Devil's counterfeits."
