What If Hearing From God Is Less Complicated Than You Think?

Words of knowledge, words of wisdom, and the common good

By Pastor John Erickson

I think the phrase spiritual gifts makes some people nervous. Especially when we start talking about a word of knowledge or a word of wisdom.

For some people, that sounds exciting. For others, it sounds a little weird. And if I'm being perfectly candid, sometimes Christians make it weird. We can make these things sound like a mysterious club where only certain people have access to God and the rest of us have to watch.

But that isn't what Paul describes in 1 Corinthians 12.

Paul says the Spirit gives these manifestations for the common good. Not to make somebody famous. Not to help somebody win an argument. Not so you can impress your small group with how spiritual you are. The Spirit works through people to build up other people.

And that changes how we approach the whole conversation.

It Isn't a Spiritual Personality Test

When we think about gifts, we often think of the things we're naturally good at. Maybe you're good at teaching. Maybe you organize everything, right down to the color of the paper clips. Maybe you care for people well.

Those are wonderful things. Here I am focusing on what Paul calls manifestations of the Spirit-moments when God's presence becomes evident through someone in a way they couldn't manufacture themselves.

I enjoy Fourth of July fireworks. Sometimes I have picked up one with a name on the label that tells me almost nothing about what it will actually do. A little mystery is part of the fun.

That picture helps me release the pressure to know exactly how God will work before I make myself available to Him.

It's an imperfect illustration, of course. The Holy Spirit isn't a firework, and we don't activate God like a machine. But there's something helpful about releasing the pressure to produce an impressive result.

We can pray. We can pay attention. We can obey a gentle prompting. God is responsible for what only God can do.

What Is a Word of Knowledge?

Paul mentions a message of knowledge in 1 Corinthians 12:8. Christians understand the mechanics of this gift differently, but a simple way to describe it is an insight given by the Spirit that we wouldn't otherwise possess.

Think about Jesus talking with the Samaritan woman in John 4. He knows things about her story that haven't come up in their conversation. But notice what he does with that knowledge. He doesn't use it to humiliate her in front of a crowd. He draws her into a conversation that leads toward truth and life.

I have experienced much smaller, quieter moments. Sometimes a person comes to mind, and I have a strong sense that I should call or text them. More than once, I've reached out and discovered that they were walking through something difficult and really needed someone to pray with them.

Could there be ordinary explanations for some of those moments? Sure. We should be humble about what we know. Not every thought is a message from heaven.

But what if we were more willing to pay attention and act in love? Even when we're uncertain, checking on someone with kindness is usually a pretty good decision.

And What Is a Word of Wisdom?

Knowledge and wisdom are related, but they aren't exactly the same.

You can know a great deal about a situation and still have absolutely no idea what to do about it. Have you ever been there? You've listened. You've gathered the facts. You've even Googled it. And you're still stuck.

Wisdom is knowing how to respond in a way that reflects God's character.

I remember sitting with someone who was struggling and feeling that I should gently ask about something below the surface. The conversation opened up. Then, as we talked through the situation, words came that were wiser than the ones I had prepared. I couldn't take credit for manufacturing the moment.

I don't share that to make myself sound impressive. There are many conversations where I wish I had been wiser. I share it because God's Spirit is not limited to people who have a perfect answer before the conversation begins.

Sometimes he gives us the right question. Sometimes the right silence. Sometimes the courage to speak gently when speaking honestly is uncomfortable.

Keep the Goal in Front of You

Here's the test I come back to: Is what I'm doing actually helping someone?

If my supposed insight makes a person feel exposed, manipulated, or dependent on me, something has gone wrong. God's gifts are not permission to invade someone's life or claim authority over their decisions.

A prompting needs humility. It needs discernment. It needs to be measured against Scripture and the character of Jesus. And we ought to leave room for the possibility that we've misunderstood.

In practice, that can sound as simple as, "You've been on my mind. How are you doing?" It can look like praying before a difficult conversation, asking God for wisdom, and then listening more than we talk.

You don't need a microphone. You don't need to announce, "Thus says the Lord," every time you have a thought. You certainly don't need to pretend you know something you don't.

You can simply make yourself available.

Start With Someone Who Needs Encouragement

Here's a practice worth trying. Think of someone you know. Ask God to help you notice what they might need. Maybe a Scripture comes to mind. Maybe you feel drawn to pray for them. Maybe you realize it's been a long time since you asked how they're doing.

Then do the next loving thing. Reach out. Listen. Encourage. Don't pressure them to validate your experience.

We can spend a lot of time debating whether God still does extraordinary things. Those are important conversations. But in the meantime, there are ordinary people all around us who need God's love expressed in ordinary ways.

Paul says these gifts are for the common good. That means the end goal isn't that someone thinks, Wow, you're so spiritual.

It's that someone walks away a little more aware that God sees them, loves them, and hasn't left them alone.