Bible Heaven/Bible Heaven.iso/alphon_1/7845/h-spirit.011

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                        THE HOLY SPIRIT              Study No.11.

XI.  The Word of Wisdom.

A.   DEFINITION .
     Remember, these are said to he manifestations of the Spirit

     (l Corinthians 12:7), not man's soul powers.  Therefore, to
     just define wisdom still does not adequately define this
     gift.

     This gift cannot be gained through study and experience, yet
     neither is it a substitute for study and experience.

     The gift of the word of wisdom is wisdom that is
     supernaturally given by God.  It is not "a" Word of wisdom
     but "the" word of wisdom.  It is not just a word on the
     subject or the situation at hand, it is the word on it. it is
     the answer or the solution or the will of God in that
     situation.
     Natural wisdom and general wisdom in spiritual things are
     good and must be sought by all 1 Corinthians 2:6; James 1:5),
     yet  the  word of wisdom comes by means of Spirit
     impartation.   it is not just a God endowed faculty of human
     wisdom.

B.   The Word of Wisdom illustrated in the life of Jesus:
     We should first see this gift as it operated in the life of
     the Lord Jesus astonished people by:  (1) His wisdom and, (2)
     His mighty works. (Matthew 13:54)

     Here are references which illustrate His use of the Word of
     Wisdom.

     --Luke 4:3-14 - In withstanding Satan. Satan used knowledge
     to trap Him, but Christ went a step beyond and used divine
     wisdom which applied specifically to that knowledge.

     --Luke-7:22 - "Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your
     way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard;   how
     that the blind see the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed,
     the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is
     preached."

     His reply to John's messengers was the most  masterful  thing
     He could have said.  He gave no great doctrinal explanation.
     He said only that they should observe His ministry and see if
     it  bore  the marks of the Messiah.

     --Matthew 22:15-22- His answer to the Pharisees.  The
     Pharisees threw a trick question at Him to trap Him into  an
     offence  that might open Him to accusation and legal
     punishment.   He  knew  He would offend the people if He
     openly endorsed paying taxes, but if He opposed it, He would
     offend the Roman government.  His answer was a "masterpiece",
     a Word of Wisdom.

     (Other examples from Christ: Matthew 22:312-34)

     C.   How the Word of Wisdom is manifested:
     This gift the Spirit works in many forms for different
     purposes.
     God is a God of great variety.  We tend toward attempting to
     stereo-type Him. He has told us there are varieties of gifts
     and they operate in varieties of ways.  (I Corinthians
     12:3-5)

     The Word of Wisdom may come in the following ways:

     1.   By the Spirit speaking within - or we could say, by
     spiritual intuition: hearing with the spiritual ears the
     voice of the Spirit.

          The book of Acts shows us repeatedly that God can and
     does speak without an audible voice. He imparts His mind
     through the agency of the Spirit.

     One just suddenly knows the mind of God on a matter.  It is
     unexplainable except that it comes by a spiritual
     communication.  With it also comes an instinctive faith and
     assurance that it is a divine "word of wisdom."

          --Acts 16:6-8 - Here the Spirit  forbade  Paul  to  go
          into  Bethania.

          --Acts 20:22-24 - God had imparted to Paul the "word of
          wisdom" and he knew he was to press toward Jerusalem even
          though he had received the prophetic word that bonds and
          afflictions awaited.

     This inner impartation of wisdom also operates in dealing with
     people's personal Problems and  complex situations:

     --1 Kings 3:17-23 - Solomon's dealing with the two harlots is
     a perfect example of this.  This was a direct fulfilment of
     what the Lord had promised Solomon.  The request Solomon made
     was that he might have discernment and wisdom to judge the
     people. (1 Kings 3:9)

     --2 Samuel 12:1-14 - Here we see that the prophet Nathan not
     only had supernatural knowledge, but supernatural wisdom and
     guidance in the application of that knowledge.

     --Acts 8:20-22 - Peter saw Simon's heart as an open book, and
     by the words of knowledge and wisdom, dealt with him.

     --Acts 23:6-10 - Here Paul did something similar to what
     Christ had done in dealing with the Pharisees and Saducees: he
     was given wisdom from the Lord to side with the Pharisees and
     thus cause dissension among the people.

2.   As a revealed application of Scripture - this would be a
     "quickened word from the Lord" for a specific situation.  It
     brings a real live need in touch with the voice of God through
     the Scripture.

     --Acts 1:15-23 - As Peter and the rest of the 120 were in
     prayer, God opened to his understanding to what should be
     done.  He did it by quickening a Scripture to Peter.  He used
     Psalms 109 where David was praying an imprecatory prayer
     against his enemies.

     --Acts-2:14-36 - The word of wisdom was also involved here in
     the revealing of the Old Testament Scripture to Peter.

     --Acts 15:13-18 - Here James is given the spirit of wisdom and
     revelation concerning an Old Testament passage helping bring
     the solution to a very thorny problem in the early church.

3.   By an audible voice or an angel -

     --1 Kings 19:12-18 - God speaks in the still small voice to
     Elijah, telling him what he is to do;

     --Acts 8:26,29- - In verse 26 the angel of the Lord spoke to
     Philip, then verse 29 specifies that it was the Spirit
     speaking to him.

     --Acts 9:10-17 - We see that an audible voice came to Ananias,
     instructing him concerning what he was to do.

     --Acts 27:21-24 - The angel appeared to Paul and revealed
     God's word concerning the situation.

4.   By dreams, vision and trances -

     --Acts 18:9.10 - The Lord spoke to Paul in a night vision
     assuring him that on harm would come to him; and that there
     were many Godly people in Corinth.

     --Acts 16:9-10 The Macedonian call came to Paul in a vision at
     night.

     --Acts 22:17-21 Jesus Himself appeared to Paul, instructing
     him as to what he was to do.

     --Acts 10:16 - It was through a vision that the Lord spoke to
     Cornelius, showing him what to do.

          -Acts 10:10-17 - Peter went into a trance and was
     instructed by God.  The word "trance" is defined by Vine as
     "a condition in which ordinary consciousness and the
     perception of natural circumstance were withheld, and the
     soul was susceptible only to the vision imparted by God."
     This was not a self-induced trance, but Spirit induced; It
     was a temporary oblivion to the natural realm, just as the
     prophets often experienced when being shown fantastic
     spiritual realities.

5.   By the unanimity of the Spirit among spiritual leaders-

     --Acts 6:1-6 - When they were confronted with a major
     problem requiring a major decision God gave a word of wisdom
     to the twelve which set the direction, not only for their
     situation, but for the Church down through history.  Deacons
     become a permanent office and function in the Church.  This
     is later confirmed by Paul in 1 Timothy 3:8-13.

     --Acts 15:2,4,6,22,23. - It was through the plurality of
     ministry that a great crisis was met.  It was solved by the
     apostolic vision of Peter, the apostolic results of the
     ministry of Paul and Barnabas, the quickening of a word of
     wisdom and revelation from the Old Testament to the apostle
     James, and the unity of the Spirit among all the apostles
     and elders.

6.   In connection with prophecy concerning future events and
     developments --
     This may include the unfolding of God's plan for the future
     concerning cities, or even individuals.  The word of wisdom is
     much in the foretelling of events as in those commands which
     God gives arising out of His knowledge of those events. In
     such cases it is only as certain events develop over a period
     of time that the word of wisdom is fulfilled.

     --1 Kings 8:1-6 - There was a warning of a seven year famine
     and instructions to the widow and her family to leave the
     country.

     --Daniel 5 - God knew the armies were diverting the channel of
     the river in order to gain entrance into the city under the
     great impregnable wall which protected it, and Daniel, by a
     prophetic word and word of wisdom, explained God's purpose
     through it all.

     --Acts 18:10-11 - Paul saw by divine wisdom and knowledge the
     great Corinthian Church when it had not yet been formed. "For
     I have much people in this city.  "

     D.  Other observations and principles:

     The word of wisdom operates with, and may include, any of the
     other gifts as the occasion may demand.

     --Acts 9:34 - Peter operated in wisdom and healing and
     knowledge (probably miracles and faith also).

     --Acts 18:8-12 - Paul, when in a complicated situation, was
     given a word of wisdom as to how to handle it.  It was
     accompanied by a word of knowledge, faith, miracles and
     prophecy.

     --Acts 16:16-18 - Again, after a period of time, the Lord
     directed Paul with an impartation of divine wisdom for this
     occasion.  It was also accompanied by at least the gifts of
     faith, miracles, and knowledge.

     --Acts 16:25-31 - Paul and Silas did not instinctively make a
     break for freedom, rather, God directed them with a timely
     word of wisdom to lead this jailer and family to the Lord.

     (For other related Scriptures see:  Daniel 2:30; 2 Samuel
     5:19,23-24; Proverbs 11:30: Acts 6:3,10; l Kings 10:1; Genesis
     41:33-36)

     NOTE: 1 Corinthians 1:17-31 differentiates between worldly
     wisdom and God's wisdom. (Also James 3:14-18)

     E.  The power and the place of the Word of Wisdom:

     It is the first gift mentioned and is needed in the operation
     of all the other gifts.

     -- Ephesians 1:17 --"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."

     Wisdom is connected with a deep intimate knowledge of God.

     --Colossians 1:9 -  " For this cause we also, since the day
     we heard it, do not cease to pray for you and to desire that
     ye might be filled with the knowledge of His will in all
     wisdom and spiritual understanding."

     --2 Peter 3:15 - ". . And account that the longsuffering of
     our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also
     according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you."

     --Proverbs 8:22-30 - gives Christ His rightful place with
     regard to the subject of divine wisdom - He is the wisdom of
     God personified and embodied. (Also I Corinthians 1:24)

     Wisdom itself is the ability to apply possessed knowledge and
     experience.
     It involves dealing with affairs on a practical, working level
     as distinguished from mere study and investigation, Knowledge
     is the raw material; wisdom is needed to build with it.

     --Proverbs 24:3-6 - "Through wisdom is a house builded; and by
     understanding it is established: and by knowledge shall the
     chambers be filled with all precious riches.  A wise man is
     strong; yea a man of knowledge increaseth strength.  For by
     wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of
     counsellors there is safety."

     --Proverbs 3:19 "The Lord by wisdom hath founded the earth; by
     understanding hath He established the heavens.'

     --Proverbs 8:14 "Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am
     understanding; I have strength."

     The gift of wisdom will play a tremendous part in the last day
     church.  It is vital that we have the "mind of Christ" on all
     issues of the kingdom of God.