The Gifts of the Holy Spirit: - Vital Christianity
The Gifts of the Holy Spirit: - Vital Christianity
The Gifts of the Holy Spirit: - Vital Christianity
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133<br />
HOW “WORDS OF WISDOM” ARE EXERCISED<br />
Pytches gives insight as to how “words <strong>of</strong> wisdom” are exercised.<br />
1. <strong>The</strong> recipient seeks to be in a right, open and prayerful relationship with <strong>the</strong> Lord.<br />
2. In <strong>the</strong> context <strong>of</strong> a healing ministry <strong>the</strong> gift is usually exercised with o<strong>the</strong>rs present.<br />
3. <strong>The</strong> recipient is given a spiritual revelation—God’s perspective in a situation. This revelation<br />
could take a number <strong>of</strong> forms: by receiving a mind’s-eye picture or word, by hearing with his<br />
‘inner ear’, etc. God, being sovereign, can reveal this in any way he wills.<br />
4. It is sometimes accompanied by a ‘word <strong>of</strong> knowledge’, revealing some fact previously<br />
unknown to <strong>the</strong> persons ministering and possibly <strong>the</strong> person being ministered to.<br />
5. A word <strong>of</strong> wisdom is sometimes given as a prophetic utterance and has all <strong>the</strong> characteristics<br />
<strong>of</strong> prophecy.<br />
6. Words <strong>of</strong> wisdom almost always come in <strong>the</strong> exchange <strong>of</strong> what is happening.<br />
7. In <strong>the</strong> context <strong>of</strong> ministry someone may be shown how to respond to some unexpected<br />
situation. Having been given miraculously some ‘word <strong>of</strong> knowledge’ oneself, or this being<br />
revealed to someone else who shares it with <strong>the</strong> rest <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> ministering group, it becomes clear<br />
how to minister, pray, speak, or o<strong>the</strong>rwise act. 6<br />
Example<br />
David Pytches shares <strong>the</strong> following story:<br />
“Some two years ago a lady from Wales came to kneel at <strong>the</strong> communion rails after<br />
<strong>the</strong> service at St. Andrew’s, Chorleywood (probably in response to a word <strong>of</strong><br />
knowledge for someone with rheumatoid arthritis in <strong>the</strong> hands). As she was being<br />
prayed for, nothing seemed to be happening. After a while one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> team praying<br />
<strong>of</strong>fered <strong>the</strong> suggestion (word <strong>of</strong> knowledge) that it was due to something which<br />
happened in her teens. <strong>The</strong> leader <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> group, asked her (word <strong>of</strong> wisdom) if she<br />
could recall any trauma or problem to do with her ‘teens.’ She looked quite blank.<br />
‘Do you mind if we pray over <strong>the</strong>se years?’ she was asked. She readily consented and<br />
<strong>the</strong> Lord was asked to heal whatever it was. As this was done <strong>the</strong> sufferer suddenly<br />
began to weep pr<strong>of</strong>usely. <strong>The</strong> tears fell on her hands. Suddenly <strong>the</strong> fingers loosened<br />
up and she was healed. She has returned since to give thanks to God. She is even<br />
typing again quite normally.<br />
“<strong>The</strong> ‘word <strong>of</strong> wisdom’ revealed how to minister. <strong>The</strong> ‘sufferer’ herself had no idea<br />
what <strong>the</strong> trauma was she had suffered as a teenager even after <strong>the</strong> healing had taken<br />
place.” 7