There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. … for to one is given the word of wisdom. 1 Corinthians 12:4, 8a
Now that we know what the word of wisdom is, how does it function? How does this apply to the life of the believer today? We can receive a word of wisdom directly by reading the Scriptures; God may speak to another Christian to tell us something that He wants us to know; or the Holy Spirit can impress a solution to the problem on our minds. Quite often, the word of wisdom comes right from the pulpit as the pastor is teaching the Word of God.
An Example
Let me give you an example of what I mean. Let’s say that you have a problem without an obvious answer. You may be praying about it, he may be searching the Scriptures, but you just cannot resolve what seems to be an impossible situation. Then you go to a meeting where the Scriptures are being taught. The pastor asks the congregation to turn to a text in the Bible. As you read it, you think to yourself, “Oh, this isn’t what I need to hear. I know this passage, and it is not relevant to my situation. Lord, I was really hoping to hear from You.” At this point, your hope of ever resolving the problem fades. Yet, as you listen, suddenly the message begins to go in a direction that you never anticipated. Before you know it, it seems as if everyone else has left the room, and it is just you and God. He is giving you the exact information you need to deal with your problem. This is often how we receive the word of wisdom.
How the Gifts of the Spirit Operate
I’ve been on both the giving end and the receiving end of this gift. Sometimes the one on the giving end will have no idea what is taking place, but the one on the receiving end certainly does! At other times, the person extending this gift may sense the presence of the Holy Spirit in a special way and feel that He is moving them as they are speaking. Not only does this happen with pastors from the pulpit, it also happens with individual believers as they fellowship, admonish, and pray for one another. This is how the gifts of the Spirit operate. Let us continue to pray for a fresh outpouring of His Spirit on our lives individually and on the church worldwide that we might be used to spread the good news of the Gospel!