What is a Word of Knowledge?

A word of knowledge is a supernaturally revealed fact about someone or something, showing the recipient that God knows, cares, and loves them. These words often come as impressions in our mind and guide us to partner with God, speak out and pray His words to transform situations, bringing healing and wholeness.

How Do Words of Knowledge Come?

Words of Knowledge often come as impressions in our mind's eye, typically in six common ways:

1. We See It: We receive a mental image or vision.

2. We Read It: We visualize it like a banner, as if reading a headline.

3. We Know It: We intuitively understand what is wrong with someone.

4. We Feel It: We experience sensations or pain in our body that isn't ours, sometimes referred to as "sympathy pain," indicating another person's condition. We could also end up feeling the emotions or feelings of the other person, guiding us in how to pray.

5. We Speak It: It flows from our mouth in faith, and we understand it as we speak.

6. We Hear It: We may hear an inner voice, an external voice, or end up finding a phrase on our lips as if spoken to us.

God may use a combination of these methods to confirm and strengthen our faith. Words of Knowledge encourage those struggling to believe in healing, helping them respond in faith and increasing their belief.

God gives words of knowledge to His people as they minister in the streets for several reasons:

1. To Demonstrate His Power and Presence: Words of knowledge can reveal God's supernatural insight, showing people that God is real, present, and active in their lives. This can lead to a powerful encounter with God.

2. To Build Faith: When individuals receive specific, accurate information that only God could know, it can significantly strengthen their faith and trust in Him.

3. To Show His Love and Care: Words of knowledge often address personal, intimate details of someone's life, demonstrating God's deep love and concern for each individual.

4. To Provide Guidance and Direction: These revelations can offer guidance, answer questions, or provide solutions to problems, helping people make decisions aligned with God's will.

5. To Open Hearts to the Gospel: Supernatural knowledge can break down barriers and open people's hearts to the message of the Gospel, making them more receptive to hearing about Jesus.

6. To Encourage and Comfort: Words of knowledge can bring comfort, encouragement, and reassurance, reminding people that God sees their struggles and is with them.

These reasons reflect the purpose of spiritual gifts as outlined in 1 Corinthians 12:7: "Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good." They serve to build up the body of Christ and reach out to others with God's love and power.