Road Signs

Have you ever been at a crossroad… everyway seems like the right way, you lack the necessary ability to decide which way to take? It is a regular occurrence in our day-to-day life. Decisions and choices face us each day. Starting from very big ones to the very small ones like what cloth to wear, what road to take, what and when to eat, etc. these are the choices that face us each day. There are times when human research and evaluation are just not enough. We do not have the ability to foresee how future events and decisions might affect the world in which we live. At those times when we are at lack as to the right decision or path to take, we need the help of the Holy Spirit.

The gifts of the Holy Spirit (the gift of Word of Wisdom, the gift of Word of Knowledge and the gift of Discernment of Spirits) are available to us, not just for our heavenly race, but also for our day-to-day decision-making. A Bible scholar described the Holy Spirit as that person that will always stay at one end of the table while you stay at one end and He will help you lift that table you would not have lifted on your own.

When we talk about the Word of Wisdom, we speak of things like common sense, sound judgement and keen insight – critical qualities in critical times. The Word of Wisdom constitutes supernatural, not human, insight given for specific situations. A Word of Wisdom is a specific message from the Holy Spirit for a specific situation that there would have been no human way of obtaining it.

Just like the Word of Wisdom, Word of Knowledge describes a gift of knowledge through the Spirit for a specific instance or circumstance. It has nothing to do with human attainment. Discernment of Spirit is a gift that relates distinctly to distinguishing between spirits. It enables believers to comprehend the spiritual power that lies behind human activity.

Situations that demand the Holy Spirit’s help to make informed and sound decisions arise every now and then in our lives. God’s answer to these needs comes in the form of the gifts of a Word of Wisdom, a Word of Knowledge, and the Discerning of Spirits. The Holy Spirit imparts wisdom and knowledge in situations that call for more than our natural abilities to handle. The Spirit also helps us discern when the enemy of our soul is at work. Thank God for these gifts and ask Him to reveal what believers need to know to serve Him.

“…Since you are so eager to have the special abilities the Spirit gives, seek those that will strengthen the whole church.

­­(1 Corinthians 14:12, NLT)