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What is a Message of Knowledge?God or the Lord Jesus giving knowledge to us via the gift ofholy spirit.A message of knowledge is Godor the Lord Jesus Christ providingto you information, insight, andunderstanding about something.Amessage of knowledge is amanifestation of the gift ofholy spirit (1 Cor. 12:7 and8), so it is God or the Lord Jesusgiving knowledge to us via the giftof holy spirit. We refer to “a messageof knowledge” as a “revelationmanifestation,” because God orthe Lord Jesus Christ reveals theknowledge, or information, to us.The manifestation is a “message” ofknowledge. The Greek word logos,often translated “word,” does not referto a “ vocabulary word,” but rather toa “word” in the sense of a concept oridea. Thus, the entire Bible is referredto as “the Word,” i.e., the messagefrom God. The translation “message”accurately communicates what the Lordgives by revelation: a message.Revelation & its many formsAlthough most people wouldunderstand the phrase, “a word ofknowledge,” it could be misleading ifone thought it meant revelation came in“words.” In our experience, the majorityof the revelation most Christians receiveis not by “words,” but much more often byan impression or picture. The message ofknowledge that God gives us may comein many different ways. It may seem soclear that you think it is in the sensesworld, but it is God communicatingthrough holy spirit to your mind. Forexample, you may “hear” a voice that isso clear you think others heard it too,but it is coming to your mind via holyspirit. Or you may see a picture or visionso real you think others can see it, but itis in your mind via holy spirit. Revelationcan come to us via holy spirit as a voice, a“A message ofknowledge” issimply knowledge,information, notwhat to do with theinformation, whichis “a message ofwisdom.”picture or vision, a physical sensation, asmell, a taste, a firm realization, an innerknowing, or a strong emotion.A trip to a theological librarywill quickly reveal that there is muchspeculation and ignorance amongChristians as to what “a message ofknowledge” is. The Living Bible, 1for example, calls “a message ofwisdom,” “…the ability to give wiseadvice….” But many people, savedand unsaved, give wise advice, sothat is not a manifestation of holyspirit. Sometimes people point outthat God “speaks” via other people’sadvice, or nature, etc., and God can“speak” to us that way, but that kindof communication from God is nota manifestation of holy spirit. Amessage of knowledge is the Lordgiving information to the believer,not the believer giving it to others.“A message of knowledge”is not explained in 1 Corinthiansbecause they did not need anexplanation. They knew aboutthem from the Old Testament,the example of the apostles,prophets, and others who walkedin great power, and from their ownpersonal experience (“everyone has…arevelation, a tongue, an interpretation...”1 Cor. 14:26). However, in the centuriesafter Christ many false doctrines enteredChristianity, fulfilling Paul’s prophecythat people would not put up withsound doctrine but be turned to myths(2 Tim. 4:3-5), and Peter’s prophecy thatfalse teachers would bring destructiveheresies into the Church (2 Pet. 2:1).In the case of God’s gift of holy spiritand the power a believer could manifest,the gift of holy spirit was turned into“the Holy <strong>Spirit</strong>,” the “Third Person ofthe Trinity,” and the true meaning ofverses that referred to holy spirit waslost. When we recover the truth thatGod placed His gift of holy spirit “upon”people before the Day of Pentecost,that it is born in people after Pentecost,and that the invisible gift of holy spiritis the primary way God communicatesto His people, we can clearly see “amessage of knowledge” and the other16 STFonline.org/sower | May/June 2008
To send this article to a friend, visit <strong>Truth</strong>OrTradition.com/knowledge2calendar ofevents 2008manifestations throughout the Bible,and how they operate in the life of aChristian.Old Testament examplesIn the Old Testament the spiritcould be upon a person for a short time,or for a long time, as it was with Moses,Joshua, or John the Baptist. Moses hadholy spirit on him, and God spoke tohim via that spirit. When he needed helpleading the Israelites, God’s solutionwas to put holy spirit on 70 men whocould then help with the work (Num.11:16-29) because they too could thenhear directly from God. Many of Israel’sleaders are specifically said to have hadholy spirit on them: Joshua (Num. 27:18);Othniel (Judg. 3:10); Gideon (Judg. 6:34);David (1 Sam. 16:13); Elijah and Elisha(2 Kings 2:15), and many more.“A message of knowledge” is simplyknowledge, information, not what todo with the information, which is “amessage of wisdom.” Many times Godgives both a message of knowledgeand a message of wisdom, althoughsometimes He gives only one. If He givesonly knowledge, it is because what to dois apparent. If He gives only wisdom, the“why” was not necessary.There are hundreds of examples of“a message of knowledge” in Scripture.God gave much information to Abraham,Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, and others.In Genesis 17:6 God told AbrahamHe would make him very fruitful andthat nations and kings would be hisdescendants. This is pure information,a message of knowledge. There wasnothing for Abraham to do but know it.God told Joseph that the seven ears ofgrain and seven cows in Pharaoh’s dreamwere seven years (Gen. 41:25-32), andlater gave Joseph a message of wisdomso he would know how to prepare forthe upcoming famine. God told Mosesthat when he went to Pharaoh, he wouldnot listen even if there were many signsand wonders (Exod. 7:3 and 4). This wasinformation so that Moses would not gethis hopes up. God told Joshua that thereproach of Egypt had been removedfrom Israel (Josh. 5:9) so that Joshuawould know that nothing else wasneeded to get back into God’s favor. Godtold Samuel what was going to happento Eli the priest (1 Sam. 3:11-14). Therewas nothing for Samuel to do, he wasjust given the information so he wouldbe aware of what was coming.There is nothing more exciting thanhearing from God or the Lord Jesus,and they will speak to us and guide usthrough life. Although at times God givesa message of knowledge or wisdom insuch a clear and powerful way that itcannot be missed, usually revelationcomes as a “gentle whisper” or “a stillsmall voice” (1 Kings 19:12; NIV, KJV),meaning that it can easily be drownedout amidst the “noise” in our minds. Goddirects us to “Be still, and know that I amGod…” (Ps. 46:10a), so let us quiet thenoise in our minds, ask God to speakwith us, and then listen intently for Hisvoice.Note:1. The Living Bible © 1971 by Tyndale HousePublishers, Wheaton, Illinois 60187. Allrights reserved.June 26-29, 2008One Flesh Marriage ConferenceBloomington, INJuly 11-12, 2008Teens & 20s Counselor TrainingBloomington, INJuly 13-19, 2008Teens & 20s CampBloomington, INAug. 29 - Sep. 1, 200820s ConferenceBloomington, INOctober 16-19, 2008Women’s ConferenceBloomington, INOct. 29 - Nov. 1, 2008Men’s CampBloomington, INNovember 14-16, 2008Asheville ConferenceAsheville, NCDec. 31, 2008 - Jan. 3, 2009Live Out LoudColcord, OKRegister online atSTFonline.org/registeror call us toll free at:1.888.255.6189 or 317.255.6189M-F 8:30 to 5 (EST)May/June 2008 | STFonline.org/sower 17
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