Revelation
Gifts – Part 3
Memory Verse: “He reveals
deep and hidden things; He knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with
Him.” (Dan. 2:22. NIV.)
We want to learn how the word
of wisdom may be acquired. We will also see that knowledge too is of God.
This lesson will conclude our
series on the gift of wisdom, and launch us into looking at the gift of
knowledge. Let us begin by looking at Dan. 2:1-23. From there we observe:
§
There is also counterfeit wisdom. What “the magicians,
enchanters, sorcerers and astrologers” peddle is not from the living God. It is
from the devil. And it sells and men buy it. Dan.2: 2.
§
Notice that unlike men who today gullibly go to one
fortune-teller or the other, King Nebuchadnezzar knew these men did not really
possess true wisdom. He knew they were conspirators when it came to unraveling
mysteries and forecasting the future to the king. Dan. 2:8-9.
§
The devil is not omniscient. It is only God Who knows all
things. The wisdom from God is greater, more powerful and reveals everything,
including even forgotten dreams and their interpretation as well. Where the
devil and his agents give up, God and His people take over, because He is
unlimited. Dan
2:10-11.
§
God gives the gift of wisdom to those who diligently ask Him
for it. Dan. 2:17-19.
§
In giving Daniel the gift of wisdom God knew He could trust
Daniel to be humble enough to thank and acknowledge God as the source of this
gift. Dan. 2:17-23.
As you desire this gift from God,
can he trust you with it?
Are you going to use it to build up the Body of Christ and bring glory
to God’s Name? Or do you see it as a
tool with which to demonstrate and show off your superiority over others?
Lesson Outline 1:The Manifestation of the Word of Wisdom
q
The gift of the word of wisdom can be manifested through the
following four ways:
o
Through vision or dream, as was Daniel’s experience, Dan.
2:19-23.
o
Through an audible voice, as God chose in dealing with
Elijah, 1 Kings 19:11-18.
o
Through prophetic word, as God did in speaking through
Isaiah to King Ahaz, Isa. 7:14.
o
Through the Scriptures as affirmed by Psalm
119:105.
q How do we
obtain this gift?
o
By asking the Lord in faith, just as we saw Daniel do in Dan
2. That also is what we are told in James 1:5.
q What
examples of man’s wisdom can you think of that are indeed foolishness before
God, as stated in 1 Cor. 3:18-20?
Lesson Outline 2: A Fragment of God’s Knowledge
q
The gift of knowledge is closely related to the gift of the
word of wisdom.
o
After all wisdom is the correct application of knowledge,
and God is the source of both as we saw earlier in 1 Cor.
12:8.
q The word
of knowledge is merely a fragment of God’s knowledge revealed to His children
at the time it is needed.
q
God’s knowledge is unfathomable, Isa. 40:28.
q He knows
us down to our thoughts, Psalm 139:1-6. That may be a source of
discomfort to some, but it certainly comforts and assures those who love God
and seek His face to know God shares their thoughts with them – their joys
& sorrows. He is aware of our fears & He gives us the word for them.
q He knows our
needs and is able and willing to meet them if we ask Him, Matt. 6:8.
q He
sometimes meets our needs by sending a word of knowledge through a servant of
His.
Summary: We need
wisdom and knowledge. Let us desire these of Him Who owns both and willingly
gives them to those who ask Him in faith without giving room for doubts, James 1:5-8.