[1Cor.12:4-10], outlines the 9 Spiritual Gifts, given to operate in the entire Body of The Lord Jesus Christ. THE WORD OF WISDOM is not only the first on the list, but actually rated as the number one GIFT. [1Cor.12:8] It is the one gift which is first needed for the rest to operate correctly, harmoniously, beneficially and acceptably before God. It is therefore, the most important in the list.

[Prov.2:1-2; 6-8; 10-11]

1. My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee;

2. So that thou incline thine ear unto Wisdom and aply thine heart to understanding;

6. For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.

7. He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly
.
8. He keepeth the path of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints.

10. When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thine soul;

11. Descretion shall preserve thee, understanding shalll keep thee:

 

When Solomon was anointed King in Israel, God asked Solomon in a dream, what he would ask of him. 

[2Chro. 1:10-12]
10. Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people: for who can judge this thy people, that is so great?

11. And God said to Solomon, Because this was in thine heart, and thou hast not asked riches, wealth or honour, nor the lives of thine enemies, neither yet hast asked long life; but hast asked wisdom and knowkledge for thyself, that thou mayest judge my people, over whom I have made thee king:

12. Wisdom and Knowledge is granted unto thee; and I will give thee riches, and wealth, honour, such as none of the kings have had that have been before thee, neither shall there any after thee have  the like.

It is the first and most needed attribute a leader of a nation must have to operate there with. Before Jesus 
Christ stepped out to start his redemption and salvation mission, he had to wait and grow in WISDOM first.

[Luke. 2:40]
And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him..

In the Old Testament, when Moses was shown how The Tabernacle of The Witness was to be build he was given men equipped with the NEEDED WISDOM to do the Job.

[Exo. 31:2-6]
2. See, I have clled by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah:

3. And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in Wisdom, and in Understanding, and in Knowledge, and in all manner of Workmanship,

4. To devise cunning works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass,

5. And in cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of timber, to work in all manner of workmanship.

6. And I, behold, I have given with him Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan: and in the hearts of all that are wise hearted I have put Wisdom, that they may make all that I have commanded thee;

In the New Testament, The foundation builder of the Church of God was Paul the Apostle. Of himself he said
he is a WISE MASTERBUILDER.

[1Cor.3:9-10]

9. For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry,ye are God's building.
10. According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.

When the first New Testament and Apostolic church was established after Pentecost, the first appointed deacons were men in whom there was THE GIFT OF WISDOM.

[Acts.6:2-4]:
2. Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.
3. Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.
4. But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

 

When Jesus sent his disciples out with power and authority to preach his Gospel, he gave them this counsel:

[Matt.10:16]

Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

But be informed also that there are two types of wisdom the bible identifies:
(1). The wisdom from above and
(2). The wisdom from below.

[James 3:13-18]
13. Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.

14. But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.

15. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.

16. For where envying and strife is, there is,confusion and every evil work.

17. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle,andeasy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

18. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

James saith you can ask for it if you don’t have it. Therefore, Wisdom can be obtained by prayer as in the case King Solomon situation.

[James 1:5-8]
5. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all menliberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

6. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.

7. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.

8. A double minded man isunstable in all his ways.

Wisdom as we have seen in the examples above is one thing, but the gift “Word of Wisdom” is another. 

WHAT THEN IS, “THE GIFT OF THE WORD OF WISDOM” This is nowhere a Bible definition, but I would like to define it as follows: You don’t have to agree with it but see if the examples used do fit into it.

“It is a supernatural revelation instantly given to the heart of a person by The Holy Spirit, which puts you into the state of mental ability to make an accurate judgment and / or decision, based on the truthful knowledge, information or facts available and related to the given circumstance or situation.”

EXAMPLE: # 1. TWO MOTHERS CONTESTING FOR RIGHTFUL OWNERSHIP OF A BABY BOY.

[1Kings 3: 16-28]

TWO HARLOTS dwelling in the same house delivered baby boys at 3 days interval.

One of the mothers slept over her baby, killed it and exchanged it with the live baby of the other harlot.

In the morning there was a great contest between the two mothers.

The issue was escalated to the king- king Solomon to be resolved.

In the wisdom given to him at that moment for that issue he said:

[1King 3:24] “Bring me a sword. “...

[1King 3:25]: “Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one and half to the other”

One of the mothers cried out with compassion for the life of the baby and said”
[1Kings 3:26a]: “Oh my lord, give her the living child, and in no wise slay it”

The other mother said in response to the King’s judgment.
[1Kings 3:26b]: “Let it be neither mine nor thine, but divide it.”

And by this, the king knew whose, the living baby is. Then he made a ruling:
[1Kings 3:27]: “Give her the living child, and in no wise slay it. She is the mother thereof.”

[1King 3:28]: And ALL ISRAEL heard of the judgment which the King had judged; and they feared the King: for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him, to do judgment.”

KING SOLOMON definitely received “a Word of wisdom” from God, to resolve the present situation, in his hand as King and judge on the issue. That was an instantly God given remedy for the prevailing situation.

EXAMPLE # 2: THE CONQUEST OF THE CITY OF AI BY AMBUSH.
JOSHUA received the word of wisdom for this plan

[Jos.8:8]:
And it shall be, when ye have taken the city, that ye shall set the city on fire: according to the commandment of the LORD shall ye do. See, I have commanded you.

• The circumstance was the second attempt to conquer The City of Ai’.
  
  
• The Strategy was to go in at night, lay in wait outside and close to the city gate.
  
  
• Have one group to approach the city gate as before, and then pretend to flee as at the first time.
  
  
• This pretence was to draw all of them out of the city until they are all between the army of Israel.
  
  
• The first thing is for them to run into the city when it is virtually empty of the soldiers, then set it on fire.

That was the word of Wisdom given to Joshua by Command of the Lord. When The Word of Wisdom received is believed and implemented as instructed, it will achieve the expected purpose.

We have a great gift from God which is under utilized in our age. It takes a prayed up life, a closer walk with God and ability to hear from God and respond appropriately. We are probably ignorant or unknowledgeable of its operation and manifestation. But it has been in use in all ages as I will demonstrate with more examples.

EXAMPLE # 3:PLOTS AND TRAPS BY PHARISEES FOR TO ARREST JESUS CHRIST:
[Luke 20:22-25]

22. Is it lawful for us to give tribute unto Caesar, or no?

23. But he perceived their craftiness, and said unto them,Why tempt ye me?

24. Shew me a penny. Whose image and superscription hath it?They answered and said, Caesar's.

25. And he said unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar's, and unto God the things which be God's.

 

Jesus had spoken a parable on “a vine yard” in which, three servants were killed.

They felt offended by the implications of that parable and didn’t like it.

They sent spies to trap him through questions on Tax payment in order to arrest him.

Jesus by discernment, perceived their intentions and motives in the plot.

They used a penny coin with inscriptions on one side and Caesar’s image on the other.

A question was asked to trap him by.

Jesus used their own answers to answer the questions they asked him.

 

That WORD OF WISDOM he spoke shattered their plots and left them marvelled at his answers.

"Render therefore, unto Caeser the things which be Caeser's and unto God, the things which be God's."

 

Later on Jesus instructed his disciples on similar situations they were going to encounter in future.

[Luke 21:12-15]

12. But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecuteyou, deliveringyouup to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake.

13. And it shall turn to you for a testimony.

14. Settleittherefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer:

15. For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.

During the Squeeze I can see God bringing into use the combination of the “THIRD PULL” and “WORD OF WISDOM” that is going to baffle our critics and persecutors. Both of them are not operated at our will, but the scripture saith:

[1Cor.12:11]
"But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will."

Sometimes it is a combination of “THE WORD OF KNOWLEDGE“ and “THE WORD OF WISDOM” as we shall see in our upcoming examples. Just keep holding onto your chair as we progress into these gifts of The Holy Spirit, according to [1Cor. 12:4-10]

The scope and applications of these gifts of the Holy Spirit is wide and diverse.

Only be sure you are sheltered under THE TOKEN. Be a Holy Ghost filled Christian. Then he is your guide, your seal, your shepherd, your battle fighter. Just be sure of that. Don’t let some preacher give you an impersonated substitute. Let him be Jesus Christ in you, the Hope of glory.

EXAMPLE # 4: EVEN TO CHILDREN GOD OPERATES THE WORD OF WISDOM

60-1127E - The Queen Of The SouthShreveport. LA.
39  That's a story that always baffles science, 'cause science says that the whale's swallow isn't big enough to take a man in. But if you notice the Bible said that God prepared this one. This was a special kind of a fish. He's Jehovah-Jireh; He can provide anything He wants to do,

because He's God. Abraham called him Jehovah-Jireh, 'cause He spoke that sacrifice into

existence. He's still Jehovah-Jireh; He can provide what He wishes. And He prepared this fish.

A little girl, happy one time coming from church with her Bible, she was going on; the infidel met her and said, "What you so happy about?"

Said, "I just got saved;Jesus is in my heart."

Said, "Nonsense." Said, "What you holding there, a Bible?"

Said, "Yes."

Said, "I guess you believe that story about the whale and Jonah."

 Said, "Oh, yes, I believe it, every word. What God says is the Truth."

He said, "Well, how are you going to prove it, otherwise than faith?"

She said, "When I get to heaven I will ask Jonah."

That's right. He said, "Then what if Jonah isn't there?"

Said, "Then you ask him."

That's a good idea of it?

"You ask him."

All right.

40  God always has the answer, if you'll just open your mouth when He opens it.

This little girl was so sure of her experience with Jesus Christ that she was willing to confront this adult intellectual infidel. God stepped in for her with his heavenly WORD OF WISDOM  gift which he could not withstand.

 

EXAMPLE # 5:[Brother Branham and a Businessman]

THE BUSINESS MAN WHO WANTED TO SELL LIFE INSURANCE POLICY TO BROTHER BRANHAM.

56-0311E - God Using His Gift
6.  So I… One day, Wilmer Snyder, a friend of mine (We went to school together.), come up to me, he said, "Billy, I want to tell you something."

Said, "All right Wilmer,"

He said, "I wished you'd just quit that nonsense." He said, "There's no need of you feeling that way. You need an insurance policy.

I said, "I got it."

He said, "Oh, you're insured?"

I said, "Yeah."

My wife looked at me as if to say, "Say, what's went wrong with you? You're telling a story otherwise." She said, "What's…" "What?"

I said, "Yeah, I'm insured."

Said, "Why, Billy what insurance do you have?"

I said, "Blessed Assurance, Jesus is mine. Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine. Heir of salvation, purchase of God. Borned of His Spirit, washed in His Blood."

"Oh," he said, "that's good, Billy, but that won't put you in a graveyard."

I said, "But it'd get me out."

 I'm not so worried about getting there; the thing's getting out. That's the one brings me out.

And the good thing about it, it's paid for. And so the price is already paid at Calvary. They're given to whosoever will receive them.

You see, God can step in, with his gift “THE WORD OF WISDOM” when we are dealings with crafty business men of this world.

God stepped in and gave him what to say, and that shut off the business man but through it , he in turn got the Gospel message for his soul. He would be thinking about getting out of the grave.

 

EXAMPLE # 6: CORRECTING A PERSON WITHOUT HURTING HIM

BRO. BAXTER TELLS BRO. BRANHAM WHAT HE' D DO TO BRO. DEMAS WHEN HE MEETS HIM AFTER THIS LIFE.

63-0123 - Identification
215. Or, with Paul, when the popular, world-loving Demas forsaken him, for his Christian, so-called, brethren of the popular opinion. When Paul stood on the Word,

"Demas left him,  loving this present world." Left him, because that he was true to the Word. It was too straight for him.

Who would you go with, Demas, or would you go with Paul? Check the Word. What side would you take in your present state at that time? Yet, them was professed Christians. Paul said, "All men has forsaken me." Poor little guy!

216. I always was alarmed at Dr. Ern Baxter. He said, "You know, when I get up to Heaven, first thing I'm going to do?"

I said, "What is it, Brother Ern?"

 217 He said, "I'm going to walk right up to Demas and slap him in the face as hard as I can."

I said, "Now, Ern."

218 He said, "I'm going to say, 'Why did you leave Paul down there like that?”

219  I said, "You really think he'll be There, Ern?" I said, "Be careful of your desire to slap him in the face." I said, "I wouldn't want to be where he was at, maybe, see, have to do that."

220 Like the infidel said, said to the little girl. He said, "You believe that Bible?"

Said, "Sure."

221. Said, "I guess you believe that story about Jonas, the whale swallowing up Jonah."

She said, "Certainly."

Said, "How you going to prove it, otherwise by faith?"

Said, "When I get to Heaven, I'll ask Jonah."

That's right. Said, "What if Jonah isn't there?"

 222. Said, "Then you'll ask him." So I guess that settles it. See? Yes, sir. He'd have to ask him. So, you see, then, that settles it.

Brother Branham corrected brother Ern Baxter without hurting him. See how we have a God-provided “tool” we can use to correct an errant brother or sister without causing any hurt? Yet we are sometimes erroneously taught we do not need these gifts anymore. We have come beyond that. How many people have we hurt in the process of correcting them? I do not mean we should lower the standard. Sin must be rebuked as hard as we can. But even so WISDOM is needed.

EXAMPLE # 7 ARROGANCE REBUKED, YET WITHOUT CAUSING OFFENCE.

JOHN WESLEY AND THE ARROGANT ANGLICAN CLERGY.

64-0614E - THE ODDBALL
58.  John Wesley, in the days of the great immoral hour of England, when,  Wesleyian revival hadn't a come on the scene… The whole world was corrupted, immorality everywhere. And the Anglican church had got so far away till there was no more revival; such Calvinistic thinking!

And John Wesley come on the scene, with the—the word of sanctification, cleaning up the immoral. He became a nut.

59. Quoting Mr. Wesley, once, in his book. He was coming down a path, and one of the man of the England church… They all thought he was crazy, so he stood in the path. Mr. Wesley was a little bitty man. This great big fellow thought he'd just get to slap him down, so he stood in the path.

 Mr. Wesley walked up and said, "Pardon me, sir,would you step out of the way?I'm in a hurry."

And the Anglican said to him, "I don't step out of the way for a fool."

60.  Mr. Wesley politely tipped his hat, walked around him; said, "I always do."

You see the wisdom of God coming in to correct uncalled for arrogance to a man of God in the path of duty.

EXAMPLE # 8: [Holy Spirit gave Brother Branham Wisdom to make a Sinner see God 

63-0115 - Accepting God's Provided Way At The End Time
123.  And I said, "Now I want to ask you something. What intelligence runs that sap, say, 'Here, it's fall. Go back down in the roots and hide. If you don't, the winter will kill you. Go back down into the roots and stay there till spring. And then when it warms up and gets just right, now come back up and bring up some more apples for this fellow'? Now, you know that's botany life. It has no intelligence of its own. Then, tell me what intelligence sends that life down into the root of that tree. It has no intelligence of its own."

He said, "That's just nature."

124  I said, "Then take a bucket of water, and set it on that post out there, and see if nature will run it down in the fall of the year, and bring it back in the spring. See? No, sir. What is it?"

125 Now, aside for a minute. It's God's provided way. It only operates the way God provides for it. A little voice says,"Get down to the roots," and down it goes. Now, it does that without any intelligence. What ought we to do, by the same God speaking to us? We, but we got a right to refuse or to accept, and, mostly, we refuse. The tree can't refuse. It only knows one routine, that's, obey its master. "Well," he said, "I never had thought of that before."

126. I said, "I tell you what. You think on it, a long time, while we go hunting. And when I come back, you tell mewhat tells that tree sap to go down into the roots, and stay for the winter, and come back again next spring. When you find out what intelligence that controls that tree life, and says, 'Go down in the root, and come back,' I'll tell you it's the same Intelligence that told me,'to go put that handkerchief on the woman, and she'd be made well.'"

He said, "Tell you?"

127 I said, "Yes, sir." I said, "What was that man's name?Do you remember?"

He said, "I can't think of it."

I said, "It wasn't Branham?" He said,

"That's it."

I said, "I'm Brother Branham."

128  There on that spot he raised up, took a hold of my hands. He said, "For once in my life, I see what you mean."

I led him to Christ.

133  What is it?Just seeing, not trying to go through all the mathematics of how it happens, but just a simple little thing, watching God provide a way, and something keeping in the way. See, the same Intelligence that would say to a dumb tree, "Go down and hide for your life” that

Same  intelligence was the One Who showed a vision of the woman.

And he caught it. And he could not deny it, either one. There stoodthe tree, and there wasthe woman. Amen. See? God's provided way!

God uses this gift of “THE WORD OF WISDOM” on diverse issues including Salvation of souls.

Examples are many both in The Old and New Testament. They cover as many issues as I have illustrated. But it is used more as a problem solving tool. Solomon used it. Jesus used it, Jonathan and David used it. Paul the Apostle used it in his dealings with the Pharisees, Sadducees Kings and the Sanhedrin. We saw, how John Wesley used it on his opponent. Brother Branham used it many times. Even a little Sunday school girl used it and baffled a grownup infidel. God still uses it today, but remember, it is not at your will to just use it. God himself steps in, and operates its manifestation. The High Court Judge who ruled over a certain very critical case used it: “A PARDON IS NOT A PARDON EXCEPT IT BE ACCEPTED AS A PARDON” That was not just an ordinary wisdom. It settled a very difficult case with no more questions arising.

That is what this gift does. Once applied by its author, it is like when a lion roars. All other voices go quite.

I hope there will be honest, sincerely yielded vessels willing to let go and let God have His way with them in this age. When the Squeeze sets in, it will not be a surprise to see it included as one of the manifestations of that time.

[Lk.21:14-15]

14. settle it therefore, in your hearts, not to meditate before what you shall answer:

15. For I will give you amouth and Wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.

Pastor Martin Tombe

Restored Bible Truth Assembly.