Thursday, October 8, 2015

Bishop’s Note: October 08, 2015 Gifts of the Holy Spirit – Utterance of Knowledge

 Bishop Eric Menees 

One of Gifts of the Holy Spirit that works hand in hand with the gift of the Utterance of Wisdom is the gift of the Utterance Knowledge. St. Paul wrote to the Corinthians: “Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit,” (1 Corinthians 12:4-8)

The Utterance of Knowledge is the supernatural revelation of facts from the past, in the present, or in the future. It comes when the Holy Spirit speaks to a person’s heart, addressing something in a brother’s or sister’s life with the purpose of building up that person in the Lord. This could be everything from speaking to the need for reconciliation, the need to act in a given situation, or the need to prepare for something that is coming in the future.

From time to time the Holy Spirit will speak to my heart, giving me a word of Knowledge to share with someone. When I prepare for a confirmation or ordination service I spend the night prior to the service praying for the candidate and asking the Lord if He has something to give to me to share with the individual. When in prayer during the service, I will generally speak in tongues over the candidate and then share with them what the Lord has put on my heart.  I am always thrilled when the individual can confirm what I shared. Of course, the true test of all of the gifts of the Holy Spirit is shown to be true by the fruit they produce.  

Have you ever felt that nudge from the Holy Spirit that gives you special insight into a person's life, but then remained silent for fear of being wrong and making a fool of yourself? I would encourage you to risk looking the fool, because the Lord may be asking you to speak life into the heart that individual. If it is of the Lord, the person will soon know it, and if it is not – well then, nothing ventured, nothing gained. As I generally say to someone: “Let me know if this is of the Lord, or if this is indigestion.” That little bit of humility acknowledges that we may be wrong. If we are seeking the Lord and seeking to love our neighbor, then I trust that the Lord will use us for His honor and glory!  

I pray you all a truly blessed week ahead.

Catechism Questions 165 - 168

165.    How is God like earthly fathers?
Like all loving and sincere earthly fathers, God loves, teaches, and disciplines us, observing our needs and frailties, and planning for our maturity, security, and well-being. (Psalm 103:12-14)

166.    How is God unlike earthly fathers?
Unlike our natural fathers, our heavenly Father is perfect in his love, almighty in his care, makes no errors in judgment, and disciplines us only for our good. (Hebrews 12:4-11)

167.    What is heaven?
Heaven is the realm of God’s glory, presence, and power, which exists alongside this earthly realm, and from which he hears the prayers of his children. (1 Kings 8; Isaiah 61-6; Revelation 21:1-5a)
168.    If your Father is in heaven, can he help you on earth?

Yes. God is everywhere, and as my almighty Father in heaven, he is able and willing to answer my prayers. (Psalm 99; Isaiah 6; Ephesians 3:20, 4:6)

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