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Gifts of the Holy Spirit 6
The Word of Wisdom
by Pastor John Hamel
We’re studying the
Revelation Gifts. These are Gifts that REVEAL something.
We’ve seen the Word of Knowledge. We’ve learned
that it has to do with the past and/or the present, only.
In this study we
will look at the Word of Wisdom.
The Word of Wisdom
is a Supernatural revelation from the mind of God. It is unrelated to
human wisdom. It has to do with people, places, events or
things. It always, and only, deals with the future, never the past or
the present.
Let’s look at an
example of the Word of Wisdom from the Ministry of Jesus. Here Jesus
is instructing Peter as to how they were going to pay their taxes.
Jesus is doing the talking.
“Notwithstanding,
lest we should offend them [the tax collectors], go thou to the sea, and
cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast
opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of
money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.” (Matthew 17:27)
Peter did as he was
instructed. Lo and behold, it was exactly as Jesus said it would
be. The very first fish that Peter caught had a coin in its
mouth. Jesus knew that it would be the first fish. He said
so. He knew it would have a coin in its mouth. He said
so. Actually, the word Jesus used for coin is “stater.”
That is a coin that is equivalent to approximately $4.00 plus, today.
That was exactly enough money to pay both Jesus’ and Peter’s taxes.
Jesus knew that this was going to happen just ahead of Peter. That’s
why what Jesus predicted would be classified as a Word of Wisdom. The
Word of Wisdom always, and only, has to do with the immediate or distant
future.
The Word of Wisdom
is considered by many to be the greatest of all nine Gifts of the Holy
Spirit. Greatest because it reveals what God would have someone to do
and oftentimes how it will turn out. Greatest because it actually
reveals future events. What could be greater than God revealing His
future plans to someone? What could possibly be greater than Almighty
God actually giving someone direction right from His Throne Room in
Heaven? Now that’s GPS. And I don’t mean Global Positioning
Satellite. I mean God Positioning Saints. God Positioning
Saints for success.
I was once making
plans to move immediately to a Midwestern State to attend Bible School. One day
while on my knees in prayer, I was caught up in a trance. I found myself standing
on an ocean dock. Before me was a giant sea-going vessel. It
was a bit of a “rust bucket” actually. There were men seated in
captain’s chairs hanging from ropes, scraping and painting all over the
vessel. Suddenly I was aware of Jesus standing directly beside
me. He was holding what appeared to be a small pad and a pen.
It could have been a palmtop and a stylus. After all, everything in
Earth is just a replica of something in Heaven. (Romans
1:20) I asked Jesus regarding the rusty, unprepared vessel, “What is
it?” He answered, “It’s [symbolic of] you.” I asked again,
“When will it be ready?” Jesus answered me, “In nine months.”
I should have been
disappointed but somehow disappointment just never seems to be an option
when you’re in the presence of Jesus. I felt pretty good standing
there beside Him in the sun looking at that giant vessel symbolizing me and
my rusty, unready condition. Suddenly I came out of the trance.
I was still on my knees just as I had been prior to the trance.
I knew that Jesus
had just personally told me that I would not be going to Bible School until the next
year. This was a Word of Wisdom. I was presently an unready
vessel for His purpose. This was a Word of Knowledge. It is not unusual for these two Gifts to
operate together.
Jesus was telling
me to not go to Bible School immediately as I
had planned. His plan and purpose for me was to wait and go the
following year. I was not to leave for another nine months. He
needed to do further work in me before I would be ready. I obeyed Him
and the metaphorical rust scraping and painting continued over the next
nine months.
The following year
I proceeded to Bible School as He had
instructed. Four families ultimately paid my tuition, housing,
transportation and other expenses. I never asked any of them for
anything. The Lord put it on their hearts to offer it. When God guides, God provides. Had
I gotten ahead of His timing, I’d have been sunk!
The Word of Knowledge
and the Word of Wisdom can come to us in many ways. They can come
through a dream, an inward picture, an open vision, a trance, God’s still
small voice, God’s authoritative voice, a simple
inner knowing, through other human beings, through an Angel or even through
Jesus Himself delivering a Word to us.
Visit our Faith Building Bible Study Centre for
fifteen detailed lessons on “Supernatural Biblical Guidance.”
However they come,
if we will obey what God is revealing, we’ll get
the blessings and God will get the Glory.
Be Blessed … John and Barbara Hamel
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