The Holy Spirit and His Gifts | Page 133

In writing to the Church, James said that if any lack wisdom, let him ask God for it (James 1:5). So we see that this general wisdom to deal wisely in the affairs oflife will be given to anyone who asks for it. The wisdom that James is talking about is the wisdom to deal wisely in the affairs of life and the wisdom to know how to conduct yourself as a Christian. However, when God sees fit to reveal His own mind and purpose and plan to man in a supernatural way, He does so by this supernatural manifestation of the word of wisdom. The supernatural manifestation of the gift of the word of wisdom is not given to everyone. Paul said in First Corinthians 12:8, "To one is given the word of wisdom." This verse says the manifestation of the word of wisdom is given to one; not to all, stating that spiritual gifts are divided severally as the Spirit wills. This infers that not everyone is going to have these manifestations. The Word of Knowledge vs. The Word of Wisdom I said that the word of knowledge is a supernatural revelation by the Spirit of God concerning certain facts in the mind of God — facts about people, places, or things in the past or present. The word of wisdom is a supernatural revelation by the Spirit of God concerning the divine purpose and plan in the mind and will of God. The word of wis F