Knowledge
1 Corinthians
2:10 The
Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.
When Paul
in 1 Corinthians 12 mentions a "message" or a "word" of knowledge he uses
the Greek word logos, which also means an idea or concept. Generally
speaking it is any knowledge that we get from the Holy Spirit. When we
talk about manifestations of the Holy Spirit, we usually mean something
thats meant to be told to someone else, but it can also be given to help
us - something we should know, whether we're supposed to say anything or
not.
Matthew 12:24-25 But
when the Pharisees heard this, they said, "It is only by Beelzebub, the
prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons."
Jesus knew their thoughts ...
Mark
2:8 Immediately
Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their
hearts, ...
John
4:17-19 "I
have no husband," she replied.
Jesus said to her, "You are right when you say you have no husband. The
fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your
husband. What you have just said is quite true."
"Sir," the woman said, "I can see that you are a prophet. ..."
A prophetic
gift
Like a message of wisdom, a gift of prophecy, and the sometimes the gift
of tongues, a message of knowledge can be called a prophetic gift because
it is, essentially, a message from God. In this case it is something that
is meant to be passed on. It is less for the person who receives the knowledge,
and more for who they speak to. How do you think that shows the Spirit
of God?
What sort
of things do you think a prophetic gift of knowledge can be about?
A postoral
gift
A gift
of knowledge is often directly related to someone we come in contact with.
Sometimes it will be something they need to know, but a lot of the time
it will be something we need to know about them. Why do you think God would
want us to know something about someone else?
Whenever we try to help someone with their lives or with God you could
say that we are acting pastorally (pastor-like). Because it is so often
given to help us do this, this gift (along with gifts of wisdom), can also
be called a pastoral gift. Just as prophecy is associated (but not restricted
to) people anointed as prophets, so the gifts of knowledge and wisdom should
be associated with people anointed as pastors and teachers.
A gift of knowledge also often goes together with a gift of wisdom. How
do you think this might work?
Personal applications
Most of what we have looked at so far has been how a gift of knowledge
works with other people. Like many of the other gifts (like wisdom), there
can also be a more personal reason for it. Just as we can receive knowledge
for (or through) someone else, so God can also give us knowledge directly
for our benefit. What kind of things might he tell us in this way?
Exercise
Like the other gifts a gift of wisdom requires faith, not so much to get
it, but to use it. What two things about the gift of knowledge requre faith
on our part?
Look
at the example at the top when Jesus was speaking to the woman at the well.
Instead of just saying "yes, you have no husband" he said more. He didn't
even say "but you have been married before," instead he went into detail.
No wonder she told people "he told me everything I ever did." Do you think
she would have reacted the same if he'd been more general or vague? What
does this tell you about how we are to use this gift?
Luke
24:45 Then
he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.
Matthew
16:16-17 Simon
Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed
to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. ..."
Knowledge
of God
One important
aspect of the work of the spirit, and part of the knowledge that he gives
is, is an understanding of the word of God and of God himself. This is
different from other gifts of knowledge in important ways. What do you
think they might be?
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