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The gift of knowledge does not inspire the words used to convey the knowledge. That is the gift of prophecy.
gift of knowledge gives knowledge of something, of anything which God chooses, which would otherwise not be known. A 'future' element in a gift does not define the gift. The gift of knowledge is a revelation to the mind of a fact or situation which is unknown, whether it be past, present, or future. God is unrestricted concerning the content of the revelation. The name of this gift defines it.
But it is called a 'Word' of Knowledge because it is delivered to a recipient or recipients.
As in all the gifts of the Holy Spirit, nothing is for personal advantage or gain. It is all a ministry of Grace from God – because the Lord cares!
"What then, brothers?
When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation.
Let all things be done for building up."
Let all things be done for building up."
supernatural disclosure of knowledge may be an exposure of hidden sin, an insight which avoids danger, or whatever the Lord may choose it to be. It is a revelation of fact that is an outreach of God's mercy to and through His people, concerning whatever may be necessary in a particular circumstance.
Disclosure of that which is unknown, as a work of God's love, is in effect as it were a piece-of-His-grace, and so it is always toward correction for restoration. It is never punitive!
The mechanism by which the minister of this gift receives this knowledge is not restricted to an intellectual perception. Because love is the prime motivation of all the ministries of the Holy Spirit, empathy with the person to whom the ministry is directed is often a part. This may be so to the extent of feeling the persons feelings on the issue as part of the awareness that God communicates. An example of this is the prophet Agabus' words to the apostle Paul in Caesarea.
"And coming to us, he took Paul's belt and bound his own feet and hands and said –
Thus says the Holy Spirit, 'This is how the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt
and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles'."
Thus says the Holy Spirit, 'This is how the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt
and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles'."
imparted awareness may be part of receiving a Word of Knowledge concerning a person or a situation, past, present, or future. In the case of Paul it was what waited for him in his immediate future. The purpose of this disclosure was more than to prepare Paul. It was also to alert those who cared about Paul to this coming event.
The Word of Knowledge always functions for its practical value in God's purposes with His people. Therefore its basis is – caring about the welfare of others.
