by Timothy W. Burnett
Athough the word profit is only used in verse 7, it must be figuratively inserted next to all the uses of the word "another." The omission is disigned to emphasize that all nine are meant to profit. It would just as accurately read, "For to one [profit] is given...to another [profit] is given...etc.
Word of knowledge refers to information given to the believer. It is simply for our knowledge without considering what to do about it. So often we are certain God has given us information, and then act on it in haste. Soon we're trying to clean up a mess because we hastily acted on revelation that was meant only for our knowledge and no more.
Word of wisdom is basically information for us to act on. It could be that God wants us to say something to somebody else, or do something. The Bible is packed with man and women of God acting on word of wisdom from God. The information may be to act on other information that was already given earlier (word of knowledge). Or it could be information to do or say something immediately or in the future.
Discerning of spirits is also revelation information, and is specifically designed to show believers whether or not they are dealing with a certain spirit and/or what kind of spirit, and/or what action to take if necessary. It basically falls in the category of word of knowledge and wisdom, but is for a specific purpose. When Jesus Christ spoke to and cast out devil spirits, he and the others involved were benefitting from discerning of spirits.
A good example of word of wisdom is found in Acts chaper 9. After Paul saw the vision of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord identified himself and commanded him to go to the city (Acts 9:6). He then went for three days without sight and did not eat or drink the whole time. He got word of wisdom to go to a place and wait for more information. What did he do? He went to the city and waited.
At the same time, God gave information to another man named Ananias. The Lord gave him word of knowledge and wisdom in a vision and said, "Arise and go into the street which is call Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus. For behold he prays and has seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him that he might receive his sight."
Ananias questioned the Lord, who then graciously explained the situation. Then Ananias acted on the intstructions, found Paul and ministered to him. As in many other scriptural examples, Paul and Ananias manifested holy spirit with word of wisdom and Paul benefitted in the end. We can learn from the many scriptural examples of God's people walking by His spirit in them, to the end that we are meekly ready to manifest holy spirit according to God's perfect will and timing.
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