Difference between receiving a word of knowledge, a word of wisdom and a prophecy?

[Sunshinee777]

I've flowed in all of them many times as have many in my congregation. One time recently that sticks out is when a young man who regularly attends our church came in a bit late, after worship had started, so I had no chance to talk with him. During worship myself and another person both got a prophetic word for him, a "call out" prophecy. Doesn't happen all that often, but it's not unusual either. Anyway, between the two of us we prophesied promotion, and that God was going to give him a business that would also be a ministry along with a few other details and encouragement.

What I couldn't know at the time was that he had walked in with a notebook, and in that notebook he had written down a business plan that he thought the Lord had given him and he wanted to ask me about it after service. Well the two of us basically prophesied everything that he had written down including - unknowingly - the name of the business. Additionally a few weeks later he also got promoted.

Now, that would be a word of knowledge, and word of wisdom delivered via a prophetic word.

Here's the thing, understanding the what the gifts of the Spirit are and how they work is good, but Paul considers that the "milk" of the word, not "meat" (see 1 Cor 3... basically he says the entire letter is "milk"). When writing to more mature churches Paul doesn't differentiate between the gifts, instead he says things like, "continue to walk in the Spirit". My point is, there should come a time in our growth where which gift is which and which I am operating in stops mattering (understand I'm not saying the gifts don't matter but the differentiating) and just doing what God asks you to matters.

When I was ministering to that young man I wasn't worried about which gift I needed, I just knew I was supposed to minister to him because I know the voice of the Holy Spirit and trust Him so I just acted on that... I was walking in the Spirit. Afterwards I learned which gifts were in operation (likely some of the gift of faith was in action as well)

Don't get me wrong, discussions like this are very valuable and necessary, but I believe it is valuable to know that the goal of the maturing process is to move beyond them and just respond to His Spirit. Hope that makes sense!

Thank you for the youtube link (didn´t finish it yet though) and for sharing your own experience, now I think I understand the difference. Maturing process is important indeed so we can fully trust in God and what He is working in us and around us. Hallelujah!

 

[marc b]

I experienced once praying in a group where a spirit of repentance came over us. While verbally confessing my sins in prayer, i'd be overcome with so much shame I could not bring myself to pray the words out loudly. Upon which a girl praying in the group would gently speak out the words for me which was enough to prod me to pray it out loud. This happened 5 or 7 times wherein each time I froze she would speak out the exact words i could not, and then could i only continue.

I've often looked back to that day in amazement, how much God wants us to verbally confess our sins and often wondered... was that was some form of the gift of interpretation (I was praying in english), or word of knowledge?

 

[Francis Drake]

Silly question here, but if God gives you prophecy do you have to tell it to all or what happens if you keep it to yourself? I think I would feel guilty if I kept it to myself, but would be afraid to tell anybody because fearing nobody would believe me. Very informative thread btw thanks!

It depends whether the prophecy is for an individual or the church.

I've had many prophecies rejected, by church or individuals, but that's their problem, not mine.
Just follow the leading of the Lord.

 

[TruthSeek3r]

It depends whether the prophecy is for an individual or the church.

I've had many prophecies rejected, by church or individuals, but that's their problem, not mine.
Just follow the leading of the Lord.

If one is skeptical of someone else's prophecy, what is the proper way to verify whether the prophecy is genuine? I imagine that if the prophecy is accompanied by a spot-on word of knowledge, that would raise its credibility to the clouds, but what if a prophecy alone is given? How do you know it's from the Lord?

 

[Francis Drake]

I would like to know what kind of words you have been given? I think I have difficulty to understand difference between words of knowledge and words of prophecy.

The difference between the gifts is of very little importance, and you will find that the boundary between one and the other is fluid.
Many times I've received things from the Lord and I know that it can be delivered either as a prophecy, word of knowledge, or vision. What matters is that people understand the purposes of the Lord.

 

[topher694]

If one is skeptical of someone else's prophecy, what is the proper way to verify whether the prophecy is genuine? I imagine that if the prophecy is accompanied by a spot-on word of knowledge, that would raise its credibility to the clouds, but what if a prophecy alone is given? How do you know it's from the Lord?

1) I MUST not violate the written word (bible), if it does you throw it out.

2) If you are uncertain about it, what I recommend is to "put it on the shelf". That means you don't completely disregard it, but you don't take any direct action on it either, it's a wait and see approach. In the mean time you can...

3) Ask God to confirm it. God will always confirm His word, especially with the big stuff. Many times prophecies will confirm something God has already told us personally, if that is not the case you should absolutely expect confirmation from additional sources. Again don't act on the word until you get confirmation and personal peace about it.

4) If it is a word of correction/direction telling you to stop clearly sinful behavior, disregard 2 & 3 and stop the behavior. In this case the Bible is your confirmation. And when we receive words like this it is often because there is an urgency attached to them... ie, something bad is going to happen soon if you don't stop the behavior.

 

[TruthSeek3r]

Another Word of Knowledge testimony:

Travis's Words of Knowledge Testimony || The Esther Effect

 

[Francis Drake]

1) I MUST not violate the written word (bible), if it does you throw it out.

Although this is true, and probably the first thing people say in verifying prophecy, in my experience 90% of prophecies are not related to scripture, and are therefore outside of that purview.

2) If you are uncertain about it, what I recommend is to "put it on the shelf". That means you don't completely disregard it, but you don't take any direct action on it either, it's a wait and see approach. In the mean time you can...

Agreed, but don't lose sight of it, otherwise you might not realise when it becomes applicable.

3) Ask God to confirm it. God will always confirm His word, especially with the big stuff. Many times prophecies will confirm something God has already told us personally, if that is not the case you should absolutely expect confirmation from additional sources. Again don't act on the word until you get confirmation and personal peace about it.

True, but there must come a time when we are mature enough to get that inner witness without needing, as it were, a second opinion.

4) If it is a word of correction/direction telling you to stop clearly sinful behavior, disregard 2 & 3 and stop the behavior. In this case the Bible is your confirmation. And when we receive words like this it is often because there is an urgency attached to them... ie, something bad is going to happen soon if you don't stop the behavior.

Ouch, but yes!

 

[topher694]

Although this is true, and probably the first thing people say in verifying prophecy, in my experience 90% of prophecies are not related to scripture, and are therefore outside of that purview.

Ah, but note how I worded it, if it violates scripture, throw it out. So all prophecies fit, because it is our responsibility to check and make sure it doesn't violate the scriptures... if that makes sense. I guess you could add that prophecy shouldn't add to or altar scripture either.

However, I've found that if you look close enough most prophecies actually do have some level of relation to scriptures. It's just not always direct. If a word gives someone hope, or makes the love of God real to them, that's scriptural isn't it? Even if the words that were spoken to get there are not found in the Bible. Just a thought.

 

[Francis Drake]

I'm sure we are on the same side, and I'm just trying to tease the idea out a little. ...

Ah, but note how I worded it, if it violates scripture, throw it out. So all prophecies fit, because it is our responsibility to check and make sure it doesn't violate the scriptures... if that makes sense.

Sorry but it doesn't make sense. As I said before, countless prophecies, visions, or words that I've received (or given) had nothing to do with scripture.

I guess you could add that prophecy shouldn't add to or altar scripture either.

We might try to "fact check" a prophecy against scripture, but in reality we will be just fact checking it against what we've been taught about scripture.
ie. If the same prophecy is given to a Calvinist as to an Arminian, one might accept it and the other reject it, both convinced they are checking it against scripture.

However, I've found that if you look close enough most prophecies actually do have some level of relation to scriptures. It's just not always direct.

Again no, they have no sensible or helpful relation to scripture.
Typically over the last 40 years, the Lord has given many words related to us moving and house buying. The village we live in now, and the precise house itself, over 300 miles away from our last place, all came from hearing the Lord speak.
Obviously many bible characters such as Abraham or Joseph and Mary were told to leave and move to a new location, but there is absolutely zilch in scripture to verify where the Lord told us to go, or which house.
The only verification was the witness of the Spirit.

If a word gives someone hope, or makes the love of God real to them, that's scriptural isn't it? Even if the words that were spoken to get there are not found in the Bible. Just a thought.

Errrr, not quite! In many bible locations, those who give encouraging words are condemned as evil frauds, even if they are giving words of peace and encouragement.

 

[topher694]

I'm sure we are on the same side, and I'm just trying to tease the idea out a little. ...
Sorry but it doesn't make sense. As I said before, countless prophecies, visions, or words that I've received (or given) had nothing to do with scripture.

We might try to "fact check" a prophecy against scripture, but in reality we will be just fact checking it against what we've been taught about scripture.
ie. If the same prophecy is given to a Calvinist as to an Arminian, one might accept it and the other reject it, both convinced they are checking it against scripture.

That's basically what I'm saying, fact check. If someone received a prophetic word to say, rob a bank, it is the recipient's job to either know, or research and discover that stealing is a sin... if the word says nothing of the sort, that's fine, but we should always make sure it doesn't. Put another way, knowing what the Bible says about it is our responsibility we shouldn't just take the minster's word for it. I include myself in that and say it often.

Errrr, not quite! In many bible locations, those who give encouraging words are condemned as evil frauds, even if they are giving words of peace and encouragement.

Yes, of course, no doubt. That really wasn't the point. All these elements need to be working together to test a prophetic word... I was just offering a perspective on one part of one element. Again, if you look at it another way if it is NOT loving or encouraging in any way at all, then it's probably not God. The principles of God need to be all working together in harmony.

 

[HappyHope]

I just want to say thank you all for being so informative. I should read more about the spiritual gifts. Not sure why but I shy away from this section of the forums intentionally. Tearing up reading this stuff. I can relate to some of this but I have so very many questions. Don’t know where to start. I wish I went to church with some of you.

 

[tturt]

My husband and I are older yet drove 1.5 hours one way to attend such a church. So understand what you're saying.

 

[oneanswer]

A word of knowledge reveals information about the past or the present that the minister could not have know him/herself. It reveals God's mind/knowledge

A word of wisdom reveals God's will for the future. It is not automatically expressing what will happen, but God's will. We can reject the word, but that doesn't mean it wasn't God's will.

Prophecy is God expressing His heart to a person or group of people. Prophecy is often the vehicle that delivers words of knowledge and words of wisdom.

 

[oneanswer]

I got my instructions on this at RHAMA bible college with Kenneth Hagen I like the book fresh anointing and I believe in miracles. And studied at new beginning bible college novel Hayes.
I was surrounded by prophetic people so it was like 1 samual 19: 19-23.

 

[marc b]

Ok. So...

Supposed you did take the risk, you stepped out in faith, got a string of 3 or 4 words of knowledge so exact the person is now on cloud 9 freaking out, thinks your the greatest thing after sliced bread, then suddenly... blank. You pray and try again and your mouth is cotton dry. Pray again and open your mouth and gag on a mouth as dry as sand.

What now?

 

[HappyHope]

I got my instructions on this at RHAMA bible college with Kenneth Hagen I like the book fresh anointing and I believe in miracles. And studied at new beginning bible college novel Hayes.
I was surrounded by prophetic people so it was like 1 samual 19: 19-23.

Awesome sauce! I attended a brief Baptist seminary program online. Spiritual gifts were not mentioned in depth in my program. Baptists I know often take a traditional view that pastors are prophets and everyone else is kind of left to take spiritual gifts tests and wing it from there.

 

[topher694]

I got my instructions on this at RHAMA bible college with Kenneth Hagen I like the book fresh anointing and I believe in miracles. And studied at new beginning bible college novel Hayes.
I was surrounded by prophetic people so it was like 1 samual 19: 19-23.

My church roots come from a Rhema church. Then later I was introduced to a prophetic church. Same thing with my spiritual mentor. It can be a very powerful combination because Word of Faith prepares you to apply your faith to the prophetic word... both receiving and releasing. In fact I saw Hagen Jr in person not long ago. The stories that man tells are just amazing.

 

[tturt]

Enjoyed reading Maria Woodworth Etter's book "Diary of Signs and Wonders." It was truly amazing how God used her. (A couple of comments in her book caused me to asks about speaking in tongues on thar thread - speaking in tongues deliberate? Is it something you do or something the spirit inspires and does?)

She had plenty to endure including charged with practicing medicine without a license because of her healing services. She presented letters with testimonies, etc. Sometimes crowds of men and women threatened to beat her and her team.

 

[Francis Drake]

Enjoyed reading Maria Woodworth Etter's book "Diary of Signs and Wonders." It was truly amazing how God used her. (A couple of comments in her book caused me to asks about speaking in tongues on thar thread - speaking in tongues deliberate? Is it something you do or something the spirit inspires and does?)

She had plenty to endure including charged with practicing medicine without a license because of her healing services. She presented letters with testimonies, etc. Sometimes crowds of men and women threatened to beat her and her team.

Yes I read her book ages ago.
Shame we don't see the likes of her these days.
Mind you, looking at some of the cessationist comments on the forum, I suspect she would soon be driven out of town, despite the radical healings she had.