A WORD OF KNOWLEDGE
A word of knowledge is simply a knowing. A knowing. It is almost like seeing a
television screen. You know what is in the past, in the present, or in the future.
NATHANIEL UNDER THE FIG TREE (John 1:45-51)
When Jesus met Nathaniel, he said, "Before that Philip called thee, when
thou was under the fig tree, I saw thee." A word of knowledge. He knew that
Nathaniel was under the fig tree. He saw him there.
CATCH A FISH (Matt. 17:24-27)
When Peter was confronted by the tax collectors about paying tribute,
Jesus knew that he was troubled and said,
Lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and
cast an hook [not even a baited hook?], and take up
the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast
opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money:
that take, and give unto them for me and thee (Matt. 17:27).
How did Jesus know that there was a fish with money in its mouth that would bite
an empty hook? He was given a word of knowledge. He knew the fish would be
there through a word of knowledge.
AGABUS THE PROPHET (Acts 11:27-30) (Acts 21:10-13)
Oral Roberts teaches that a prophecy is more confirmational than directional.
At Antioch,
As they [prophets] ministered to the Lord, and fast-
ed, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and
Saul for the work whereunto I have called them (Acts 13:2).
And later at Antioch, Judas and Silas,
being prophets, exhorted the brethren with many
words, and confirmed them (Acts 15:32).
Sometimes, a prophet will speak a word of knowledge. In one instance,
Agabus, the prophet,
signified by the Spirit that there should be great
dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass
in the days of Claudius Caesar (Acts 11:28).
On another occasion,
He took Paul's girdle, and bound his own hands and
feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall
the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this
girdle (Acts 21:11).
The Spirit spoke a word of knowledge by the prophet. Sometimes the
prophet speaks with a word of knowledge; sometimes he prophesies without it.
But when Agabus gave those two prophecies, he spoke with a word of knowl-
edge. He knew Paul would be bound in chains, and he knew there would be a
drought in Jerusalem, just as if he saw it happening.
ELISHA THE PROPHET (II Kings 5:1-27)
When Elisha healed Naaman the leper, Naaman offered Elisha "a blessing"
which Elisha refused. But Gahazi, Elisha's servant, thought that he should receive
something. When Naaman drove off, the servant of Elisha went after him and told
him that two young men of the sons of the prophets had come and He would like
to have a talent of silver and two changes of raiment for them. Naaman gave him
more than he asked. When Gehazi returned, Elisha asked him where he had been.
He said, "Thy servant went no whither." Elisha answered, "Went not my heart
with thee?" Elisha knew exactly what he had done. How? The Spirit gave him a
word of knowledge. Elisha then told Gehazi, through a word knowledge, that the
"leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee, and unto thy seed for ever.
And he went out of his presence a leper as white as snow" (II Kings 5:27).
A WORD OF KNOWLEDGE IN HEALING (Acts 14:6-11)
Many times a word of knowledge is manifest in conjunction with a gift of
healing. At Lystra, Paul saw a man who had been a cripple from birth among
those listening to him speak. Through a word of knowledge Paul perceived that he
had faith to be healed and said to him, "Stand upright on thy feet." The man
leaped to his feet and began to walk (Acts 14:6-11). Often, when Richard Roberts
is ministering, the Spirit gives him a word of knowledge concerning the physical
needs of the people in order to encourage them in their faith so they may receive
the gift of healing that God has for them.
BUY THE LAND
In California, in 1961, Oral Roberts, phoned his associate in Tulsa and
instructed him to go and buy the land for the university that day. His associate
said, "The man won't sell it." Oral Roberts said, "Go today." The associate went
to the man's house and inquired about purchasing the land. The man said that he
and his wife had decided the night before to sell the property. How did Oral
Roberts know which was the day to buy the land, after they had tried for months
to purchase it? The Spirit had spoken a word of knowledge.
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