Spiritual Gifts

"For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom..."

The gift of the word of wisdom is the supernatural revelation by the Spirit, of God's divine purpose--in other words, declaring the mind and will of God, unfolding to His people His plans and His purposes concerning people, places, and things. The word of wisdom and the word of knowledge are two very closely related gifts. The gift of knowledge is the revelation of past happenings, or things which exist or have taken place in the past or in the present. The gift of the word of wisdom is a revelation of the purpose of God pertaining to people, things, or events in the future. Let us not confuse the word of wisdom with spiritual insight or some unusual understanding of God's Word. The word of wisdom is a supernatural declaration used through a person to reveal the mind and will of God. The gift of the word of wisdom can be manifested when God reveals to a person something that is going to happen in the future, and as He reveals it, it will tend to warn or show what will come to pass. Many times it is used to warn individuals, or a group, of approaching danger, to deliver them from the effects of this danger. It can also be used to reveal blessings as well as judgment that will come upon individuals or a group of people.

This gift is also used to reveal God's plan to those He is going to use. They do not know it by intuition or knowledge, but by God revealing what should be done. He did this in the Old Testament on many occasions, such as the word of wisdom to Moses revealing how to carry forth His plans that the people of Israel might be set free. When Joseph was sent into the land of Egypt, he was able to feed his brethren when the famine came upon the land. God had revealed His purpose, showed forth the dream, and given him wisdom to approach the circumstances. This gift can also reveal the will of God in all of His commandments and ordinances. Every place in the scriptures that we see "Thou shalt" or "Thou shalt not" is an unfolding of God's eternal purpose, and the word of wisdom given to us by God unveils His divine purposes.

Next: "...To another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit..."