Both Word of Knowledge and Word of Wisdom gifts fall under the gifts that reveal information. The Word of knowledge is information already there but now the Holy Spirit is revealing it to someone at a given time. The information supernaturally revealed is about events or circumstances in people’s lives, nations, church, the Word or any sphere of life that God has chosen to impart knowledge to us.

The information revealed could be about people’s sicknesses, any good or bad things that happened or are happening at the time, and the information is given so that God can be glorified in the lives of those involved as they take steps to apply the information accordingly. 

 

Word of Wisdom is still information revealed by the Holy Spirit yet this one is given where there is need to apply knowledge to solve a particular challenge or issue at hand. Thus Word of Wisdom comes to help in circumstances to address the how part of the subject. Jesus telling the Samaritan woman (John 4) about her marital condition was Word of Knowledge that showed her God knows things in her life. In the Book of Acts 10, it was Word of Knowledge when Peter was told by the Holy Spirit three men were waiting for him outside and on being told to go with them it was now Word of Wisdom to solve the issue of how to handle them. When Daniel was told the answer to his prayers was given on the first day of his seeking God it was Word of Knowledge and on being told further about the things he had sought to understand he was being given Word of Wisdom. When Ananias was told in a vision about Saul’s (Paul) condition being blind and praying it was Word of knowledge and then when he was given directions to get to him to pray for him it was Word of Wisdom (Acts 9).

 

These gifts can operate together and according to 1Corinthians 12, they are given by the Holy Spirit to any believer as God would distribute amongst His Children. The same gifts can operate on a larger scale if someone is also in the Prophetic Office in serving God.  The two gifts are different from the gift of prophecy which is mainly utterance under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and the gift of prophecy is like God speaking directly through a mouthpiece, eg. I am going to do this, I am with you etc. The gift of prophecy can also function together with Word of knowledge or Wisdom especially when God is speaking and there is also revelation about past, present and future. The gift of prophecy and Word of Wisdom also focus on the present and future. When these three gifts operate at a high level and through one person, then someone could be a Prophet as well apart from operating them as mere gifts of the Holy Spirit.

 By Howard Tundu