Through a gift of the Holy Spirit, a Christian can gain strategic knowledge that was previously unknown—an insight that serves as a catalyst for prayer or heightens the receptivity of the one being prayed for.
The Bible briefly touches on this illuminating experience in 1 Corinthians 12:8, where Paul writes, "The Spirit gives the gift of the word of knowledge."
While Scripture doesn't go into extensive detail about how to operate in spiritual gifts, there are still clues in the text. The prophets of old often "saw" visions or "heard" sounds—tapping into God's messages through their senses and imagination.
Does God still speak to us in these ways today? I believe he does. In my experience, the LORD often illuminates truths within the recesses of the mind, revealing his will in profound and personal ways.
Let’s explore some of the diverse ways people receive words of knowledge today:
See It—One way God communicates is through mental imagery. He might present a picture in your mind’s eye, highlighting something that requires action or attention.
Think It—Another pathway is through spontaneous thoughts. Suddenly, you "just know" something without prior knowledge—an understanding directly imparted from heaven.
Say It—Sometimes, while exhorting, testifying, or praying, inspired words will flow from your lips, surprising even you. These spontaneous utterances can carry heavenly wisdom and insight.
Read It—You might also receive a word of knowledge by seeing specific letters or phrases in your mind. This visual cue can serve as a starting point for further engagement with God’s message.
Feel It—God may communicate through physical sensations or impressions in your body, using the natural realm to convey spiritual truths.
Dream It—While you rest, God can speak to you through dreams. These nocturnal visions can be rich with insight, offering guidance and encouragement.
Receiving and giving words of knowledge can be challenging, but I encourage you to remain open to hearing from God in these surprising, ways. Embracing these moments can stir your heart and unlock doors to incredible Kingdom experiences.
I've read others who also say one way of getting a word of knowledge is by "imagination." Although the word imagination has the word image in it, hence a vision, our current rendering implies imagination is something we think that is not real. I disagree. Moreover, my experiences confirm to me that spirit-initiated communication is not hard, but extremely easy, I'll say automatic. Then typically it is missed because of competing stimuli, and in that way making it hard to retain.