Gifts of Words of Wisdom, Knowledge, and Discerning of Spirits

Topical Discussion Group  —  “Gifts of Words of Knowledge, Words of Wisdom, Discerning Spirits ”

Stoughton Apostolic Church

April 1st, 2025

Jesus is the truth that the Holy Spirit testifies to.

John 14:6 (KJV)

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

1 Corinthians 8:1 (NASB1995) — “…Knowledge makes arrogant, but love edifies.

Love & Life vs Knowledge & Know-how

Knowledge corrupts! Fallen sinful humanity has used knowledge to elevate itself, promote itself, and develop itself ever since the fall.

Genesis 2:16-17 (NASB 1995) —  The Lord God commanded the man, saying, “From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; 17 but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die.”

Genesis 3:22 (NASB 1995) — Then the Lord God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, knowing good and evil; and now, he might stretch out his hand, and take also from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever”

The knowledge of good and evil is not bad, God has it!

What was wrong was when humanity reached to grab it in order to make ourselves wise independent from God. That is what killed us; our attempt to acquire it, take it, rather than receive it via relationship (Trying to be like God without God!)

We are meant to operate in wisdom and knowledge, but it is to be that which is connected, rooted, and sourced in the life and Spirit of God, the light of life. (John 1:4).

We sin whenever we try to accomplish spiritual results for ourselves or others by what we know, rather than through love. Love will know things,  but it is a knowing that comes from the Spirit of God, not our ability to know, discern, or teach good from evil.

Where does our knowledge come from?

Proverbs 2:6 (NASB 1995) — For the Lord gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.

1 Corinthians 2:9-16 (NASB 1995) —9 but just as it is written, “Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, And which have not entered the heart of man, All that God has prepared for those who love Him.” 10 For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. 11 For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, 13 which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words. 14 But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. 15 But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one. 16 For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he will instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ.

1 Thessalonians 5:23 (AKJV) — And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

For the most part, God’s language, his voice, his presence and leading are done by His Spirit in your spirit. His activity in us originates in His Spirit and His union with our spirit, something much deeper than our souls and bodies.

John 7:38 (NASB) — He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’”

1 Corinthians 6:17 (NASB 1995) — But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him.

The word of God is able to help us discern, differentiate, cut, and decipher between what originates in our own souls and what comes from the S(s)pirit.

Hebrews 3:12 (NASB 1995) — For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Through the word of God, time spent with the Lord, relationship, we can train our spiritual senses to discern good (what is God) verses what is not! This is at the heart of discerning of spirits.

Hebrews 5:14 (NASB 1995) — 14 But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.

Senses: aisthétérion / αἰσθητήριον / : Sense, faculty of perception (not 5 physical ones)

"aisthētērion" : In the New Testament, it is used metaphorically to describe the spiritual senses or faculties that enable a believer to discern good from evil. It implies a mature level of spiritual understanding and insight.

We want to be led by the Spirit, spoken to and communicated with by the Spirit, with the goal being the subjugation of our soul and body to the influence of the Spirit. This is God giving life to the soul and body, not erasing them or destroying them. It is your heart, mind, will, emotions, and body being filled and animated with the Spirit of God within, not the annihilation of the soul or body!

John 3:30 — He must increase, but I must decrease (not the other way around!)

Fallen Filters

We all filter what we “know,” and “discern,” and “hear” and “think” God is saying through not only these faculties,  but through the ways we have learned to use them over our lifetime of experiences.

• Personality

• Confirmation bias

• Pain / Trauma / unhealed wounds

• False gifting

• Self-preserving or Self-promoting tendencies.

• Ambition

• Bad theology and teaching

• Emotional connections to past experiences

• Personal identity

• Feelings and emotions

• Personal relationships and social connections

• Sin

• Demonic & worldly influences

All of these affect how we interpret what we hear and see and “sense,” through the faculties of the body and soul, and through the social pressures we are influenced by.

Matthew 5:8 (AKJV) — Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

Matthew 5:8 (MSG) — “You’re blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.

Hebrews 12:14-15 (AKJV) — 14 Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled;

Hebrews 4:11-13 (NASB 1995) — Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience. 12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.

Enter his rest (peace with God, self, world around you), and you will hear and know!

Discerning of Spirits

1 Corinthians 12:10 (NASB 1995) —  “… and to another the distinguishing of spirits…”

This refers to the ability to discern or differentiate between different types of spirits; God’s Spirit, human spirits, demonic spirits, and angelic spirits.

Matthew 16:23 (NASB 1995) — But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s.”

Peter spoke, but Jesus identified it as Satanic inspiration, even though it was supporting and speaking to man’s interests.

Acts 16:16-18 (NASB 1995) — 16 It happened that as we were going to the place of prayer, a slave-girl having a spirit of divination met us, who was bringing her masters much profit by fortune-telling. 17 Following after Paul and us, she kept crying out, saying, “These men are bond-servants of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation.” 18 She continued doing this for many days. But Paul was greatly annoyed, and turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!” And it came out at that very moment.

The evil spirit testified to the way of salvation, affirming the ministry of God’s chosen vessels. Very often demonic spirits will do this; get close to, attach themselves through flattery, gifts , and service in order to stay hidden in plain sight.

2 Corinthians 11:13-15 (NASB 1995) — For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 14 No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds.

This gift does involve seeing and encountering angels and demons etc, but it doesn’t have to.  Discerning of spirits is more about the origin, source, or seeing the true nature of the spiritual influence in question than it does differentiating between what is good and evil. It is about source. Its a gift to help discern root before seeing shoot!

Words of Wisdom

1 Corinthians 12:8 (NASB 195) —  For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit…

Unlike wisdom that God breathes into us to make wise choices out our union with him, this is a gift of just knowing what to do or say, and how to do it, in a given situation.

Acts 11:28-29 (NASB 1995) — One of them named Agabus stood up and began to indicate by the Spirit that there would certainly be a great famine all over the world. And this took place in the reign of Claudius. 29 And in the proportion that any of the disciples had means, each of them determined to send a contribution for the relief of the brethren living in Judea.

Acts 6:9-10 (NASB 1995) — “…some from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and argued with Stephen. 10 But they were unable to cope with the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking.

Words of Knowledge

1 Corinthians 12:8 (NASB 1995) —  “…and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit;

This is when God reveals specific details or facts about something or someone that are beyond discerning or natural knowing.

John 1:47-48 (NASB 1995) — Jesus saw Nathanael coming to Him, and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!” 48 Nathanael said to Him, “How do You know me?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.”

Matthew 9:4 (NASB 1995) —  Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts?

Acts 9:23 (NASB 1995) —  “For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.”

Hearing God (more on this next week - he will make it happen!)

Proverbs 20:12 (NASB 1995) — The hearing ear and the seeing eye, The Lord has made both of them.

John 10:27 (NASB 1995) — My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me;

Responsibility in Revelation Gifts

1 Timothy 2:5-6 (AKJV) —  For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; 6 who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

In the Old Covenant God gifted special people to hear God for others (prophets). In the New Covenant we all have a relationship with God, and are not meant to be the voice of God to others but help them know God themselves.

1 John 2:27 (NASB 1995) — As for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him.

In the Old Covenant God was leading people towards reconciliation. Now, that has been accomplished through the blood of Jesus. Revelatory gifts are now meant to inspire faith in that already established connection with God through Jesus.

Accountability in Revelation Gifts

None of us are perfect,  and our relationship with God and ability to discern what is of him needs training (Heb. 5:14). Therefore, we must exercise gifting in humility and with accountability.

Track and be accountable for your words, especially if you are speaking for God. We will give an account for every idle word (Matthew 12:36).

General Guidelines for Revelatory Ministry:

1. Ask if you can share what you believe is from God.

2. Share what you believe you have in a way that does not force the recipient to have to  choose to either accept your word as from God,  or  should they say that your revelation doesn’t relate to them, be made to think that they are “rejecting you and rejecting God.”

3. Ask if the word resonates, confirms anything, is true, or makes sense to them. Get them to interact with the word and humbly invite feedback.

4. If receiving revelatory ministry, provide feedback as to what landed and what did not. This not only helps the gift practitioner, but helps you reinforce the fact that you are accountable to God and not another’s words. Thank God for using someone to bless you if it was Him. If not, thank the person for trying, give feedback,  and move on.

5. If giving revelatory ministry, ask for feedback and track your words. Check the word to see whether it was correct or not. 1 Corinthians 14:32 “and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets…” We are accountable for what we say, not God.

6.  Discerning of Spirit is not to point out info, it is to show you and equip you with how to minister to the people in the situation. It is never about info and using that info to condemn others or elevate self. Apply what you discern in ministry and evaluate its fruit!

7. In gifts of words of knowledge and wisdom, avoid overly generic and general info,  with unspecific details, confusing instructions, and unclear timelines. These words are given for the point of being specific! Not always, but often, the failure to be specific is because the info is not of God but our souls,  and we are couching it in a lack of clarity so as to avoid being wrong. Be brave, be humble, and be clear.

8. Love never fails! We can be right in what we see and say, yet do damage if not shared in love. This love is not how you feel while you are sharing, it is God’s love found in Christ. Is what you are sharing pointing them to God’s love in Christ for that person? If not, it is info that does not need to be shared and will bear no lasting fruit.