THE GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT – Lesson Two
THE WORD OF WISDOM
Definition: The supernatural ability to give advice, counsel and appropriate answer in perplexed cases.
Examples: Judges 8:1-3 – Now the Ephraimites asked Gideon, “Why have you treated us like this? Why didn’t you call us when you went to fight Midian?” And they criticized him sharply.
2But he answered them, “What have I accomplished compared to you? Aren’t the gleanings of Ephraim’s grapes better than the full grape harvest of Abiezer? 3God gave Oreb and Zeeb, the Midianite leaders, into your hands. What was I able to do compared to you?” At this, their resentment against him subsided.
Result: V.3b – At this, their resentment against him subsided.
See 1 King 3:16-28 – (V.23-27 – 23The king said, “This one says, ‘My son is alive and your son is dead,’ while that one says, ‘No! Your son is dead and mine is alive.’ ”
24Then the king said, “Bring me a sword.” So they brought a sword for the king. 25He then gave an order: “Cut the living child in two and give half to one and half to the other.”
26The woman whose son was alive was filled with compassion for her son and said to the king, “Please, my lord, give her the living baby! Don’t kill him!”
But the other said, “Neither I nor you shall have him. Cut him in two!”
27Then the king gave his ruling: “Give the living baby to the first woman. Do not kill him; she is his mother.”)
Result: V.28 – When all Israel heard the verdict the king had given, they held the king in awe, because they saw that he had wisdom from God to administer justice.
See Matthew 22:15-46. Result: Jesus was glorified and vindicated – (V.22, 33, 41-46 – 22When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away.
33When the crowds heard this, they were astonished at his teaching.
41While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, 42“What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?” “The son of David,” they replied.
43He said to them, “How is it then that David, speaking by the Spirit, calls him ‘Lord’? For he says,
44” ‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet.” ‘
45If then David calls him ‘Lord,’ how can he be his son?” 46No one could say a word in reply, and from that day on no one dared to ask him any more questions.)
Note that Christ, as God, was David’s Lord; and Christ, as Man, was David’s son.
See Acts 5:33-40 – (V.34 – But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while.
Gamaliel – Note Acts 22:3 – “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city. Under Gamaliel I was thoroughly trained in the law of our fathers and was just as zealous for God as any of you are today.)
Result: The apostles were delivered from death.
Acts 6:1-7 – In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Grecian Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. 2So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. 3Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them 4and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.”
5This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. 6They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.
7So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.
Result: Contention was quelled, as well as V.7.
Application: With reference to the definition, this Gift is crucial at this time, as also the others, so let us earnestly seek the Lord for a revival.
Note that while only some Spirit-filled believers are endowed with the Gift of the Word of Wisdom, all believers are expected to be wise. See Matthew 25:1-13.
Let us thank the Lord for the provision He has made for us to be wise. James 1:5 – If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.