Gift of Wisdom In 1 Corinthians 12 the Apostle Paul speaks of spiritual gifts including one called wisdom. It seems to be about not just being wise, but giving a wise word or message to the church. I’ve heard a gazillion definitions of this gift. In Acts 15, there may be a good example of this gift being used by James (often thought to be the half-brother of Jesus). In verse 2 Paul and Barnabas are in sharp dispute with some folks about a doctrinal issue that is impacting the young “church.” It had to do with Gentiles, saved by grace, being required to keep certain aspects of the Jewish religious law. Paul and Barnabas go to a fairly large gathering of church leaders (vs. 4) in Jerusalem to find out what to do. There was much discussion (or more debate v. 7). Peter and others address the gathering. But no decisions are made until one guy, James, stands up and addresses the group of heavy-weights with (v. 13-21) his own judgment on what he thinks should be done. He even goes to the detail of suggesting they write a specific letter and he lists what should be written in it. The leaders immediately make a decision (v. 22) to draft the letter and send it with Paul and others to the confused Gentile believers back in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia (v. 23). That wisdom, spoken to the church by James, could be a good high-profile example of “to the one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom (1 Cor. 12:8).” Personally, I think words and messages of wisdom, knowledge, and even prophecy (which according to 1 Cor. 14:3 is to strengthen, encourage, and comfort) are spoken often by Spirit led believers, maybe even without them realizing it. Look around the “church” and you will see Spirit-filled preachers, counselors, church council or board members, pre-school teachers, etc. in many different contexts, bringing divine insight or more simply, wise advice or instruction, through a message of wisdom.
Posted on: Mon, 24 Mar 2014 13:10:06 +0000
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