Looking At The Eye

The expressive power of the human eye is so great that it determines, in a manner, the expression of the whole countenance. It is almost impossible to disguise it. It is said that gamblers rely more upon the study of the eye, to discover the state of their opponents’ game, than upon any other means. Even animals are susceptible of its power. The dog watches the eye of his master, and discovers from it, before a word is spoken, whether he is to expect a caress or apprehend chastisement. It is said that the lion cannot attack a man so long as the man looks him steadily in the eyes

God is everywhere, yet sin-blinded eyes see him not. When our eyes are opened, we can see God everywhere

We May Distinguish Four Kinds of Knowledge:

First: Natural human knowledge, which certainly is on the increase. The Book of Daniel says of the end times: “… Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased” (Daniel 12:4 KJV). Just recently a college professor friend stated, for example, that the increase of knowledge in the area of higher mathematics is so great that in some instances, researchers in two different math fields cannot even communicate with one another. Computers have become a necessity in an attempt to relate and process the tremendous stockpile of facts, since it has gone beyond the human mind to do so in any reasonable length of time. As important as the knowledge of this world is, it often creates so much pride that some people are kept from entering into the knowledge of the Lord. The Epistle to the Corinthians says, “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Corinthians 2:14 KJV). Again the Scripture says: “Knowledge puffeth up, but love edifieth” (1 Corinthians 8:1).

Second: This fallen world’s supernatural knowledge, which we have mentioned previously, is the natural mind’s attempt to gain information by supernatural means other than through the Holy Spirit. It includes the occult, the psychic, and the “metaphysical” investigations that Satan uses to ensnare an increasing number of people today. So-called religious experiences through drugs, cults, psychic, and occult phenomena are growing in numbers—all one has to do is look at the latest books on public display to see the level of interest in such things. The fallen knowledge of this world is outside the limit of God’s permission. Do not touch it!

Third: True intellectual knowledge, which comes by knowing God personally through Jesus Christ (John 17:3; Philippians 3:10), being filled with the Holy Spirit, and studying the Word of God, which brings the knowledge of God’s will and His ways, for which there is no substitute (Psalms 103:7; Exodus 33:13). With the natural knowledge of this world so intriguing and so much on the increase, it is even more exciting to realize that the knowledge of the Lord is increasing in His people as never before. Isaiah tells us that “… The earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea” (Isaiah 11:9 KJV). Even the Book of Daniel and the companion Book of Revelation have been sealed up from man’s full understanding until the time of the end (Dan. 12:4, 9). There is much in God’s Word that is ready to be revealed to us in the last times. What glorious days we live in! Man’s knowledge will pass away, but the Knowledge of the Lord is permanent and will last through Eternity (Matthew 24:35–36; 1 Pet. 1:25).

Fourth: The gift of “word of knowledge.” In looking at this gift, let us first say what it is not. It is not psychic phenomena or extrasensory perception such as telepathy (the supposed ability to read minds), clairvoyance (the supposed ability to know things that are happening elsewhere), or precognition (the supposed ability to know the future). These “abilities” are forbidden in God’s Word (1 Chronicles 10:13; Deuteronomy 18:9–12). We are not to reach out for such things—or we will open the door to Satan. All activities of this nature are dangerous and wrong. Experimentation with such psychic phenomena is toying with the fallen powers of this world, which are controlled by Satan. There are two sources of spiritual power in the world: God and Satan. Just because something is “supernatural” does not mean that it is good or from God.

The gift of the “word of knowledge” is not a human “ability” at all, but the sheer gift of God. It is not “developed” as the demonic manifestations may be, but is manifested as a result of staying close to the Lord. The Christian has something infinitely better than the counterfeit gifts of this world, for he is tasting the powers of the world to come through Jesus, and the gifts of the Holy Spirit (Hebrews 6:5). The Epistle of James says, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father …” (James 1:17). God’s gifts are from above, from heavenly places in Christ Jesus where the Christian lives in His Spirit. Paul says to the Ephesians, “God hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus …” (Ephesians 2:6 KJV). The Christian should not use the terminology of the world to describe supernatural experiences. If a believer suddenly became aware, without receiving the knowledge through any natural channels, that a friend was in trouble and needed his prayers and help, that would not be “extrasensory perception,” but rather God manifesting the gift of the “word of knowledge.” The gifts of the Holy Spirit come from and through the Holy Spirit to our spirit, and not from or through the soul or physical senses.

Paul says to the Christians at Corinth, “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal” (1 Corinthians 12:7 KJV). These gifts are given to profit and benefit one another. They must not be misused. When God chooses to share His knowledge with us, it is for a purpose. It is not given just to make us feel “spiritual” or clever!

Some examples of a “word of knowledge” as given in the Bible:

It was used to recover lost persons or property, as in the case of Saul and the lost donkeys (1 Sam. 9:15–20; 10:21–23). (Note that the “word of knowledge” can give information in seemingly very prosaic matters. God is concerned about every human need.) A “word of knowledge” was given to Nathan regarding the affair between King David and Bathsheba. Nathan was also given wisdom to deal with the King (2 Samuel 12:7–13).

It was used to expose a hypocrite, Gehazi (2 Kings 5:20–27). Elisha, by miraculous revelation, knew the location of the Syrian army camp, thereby saving Israel from battle (2 Kings 6:8–23).

The Lord Jesus used the gift of the “word of knowledge.” When He laid aside His glory, He accepted the limitations of a human intellect. While on earth, He was not omniscient—“all-knowing”—but all the knowledge He needed to meet any given situation was available to Him through the Holy Spirit just as, in Him, such knowledge is available to us today.

When Jesus healed the man sick of the palsy, He also forgave his sins. This made the scribes think evil in their hearts against Him. Jesus knew by a “word of knowledge” (not by “mind reading”) the condition of their hearts and openly said so (Matthew 9:2–6).

By this gift of revelation (not by “clairvoyance”), Jesus “saw” Nathanael long before He met him, standing under the fig tree, and Jesus also knew what kind of person he was. We see that “word of knowledge” may reveal the whereabouts of a man and the nature of his heart or thoughts (John 1:47–50).

It was used to convince the woman at the well of her sin and of the need to accept Jesus as Messiah. “Come see a man, which told me all things that ever I did …” (John 4: 17–18, 29 KJV).

We see the continuing manifestation of this supernatural knowledge in the days of the early Church.

It was used to reveal corruption in the Church—Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:3).

A different Ananias, an otherwise unknown Christian, received in a vision the knowledge of Saul’s conversion, the name of the street (Straight), and the name of the man in whose house he was staying (Judas), whom he was to look for (Saul of Tarsus), what Saul was doing (praying), his attitude (he was repentant), and his needs (healing and the baptism with the Holy Spirit) (Acts 9:11–12, 17).

The Holy Spirit revealed to Peter by the “word of knowledge” that three men were at the gate of his house in Joppa looking for him, and that he was to go with them without having any doubts (Acts 10:17–23).

For a present-day example, we’ll share something that happened in Spokane, while Rita was teaching a class on the gifts of the Holy Spirit. They were not only studying this subject intellectually, but praying and expecting that the gifts would be manifested. Faith grows by hearing God’s Word, and as the class studied the Scriptures, the atmosphere of faith increased to a point in which the miraculous could happen. At the end of the class, as they prayed, Rita had a strong impression, an unusual feeling in her right ear. Not knowing at first where the impression was coming from, she asked God’s protection. Then the thought came to her, “Maybe God is trying to show me that someone here has something wrong with his right ear!” Being among friends, she decided to ask. A young woman named Fran responded immediately, and said she had been deaf in her right ear for over twenty years. Of late, her deafness had begun to trouble her so much that she had been praying earnestly for God to heal her. “The ‘word of knowledge’ had never come to me in this way before,” said Rita, “and I knew without a doubt that God was going to heal her.” The prayer group gathered around as they laid hands on Fran, but petitionary prayer wasn’t necessary, for God had already revealed what He was going to do. In simple faith, Rita commanded Fran’s ear to be healed in Jesus’ Name. Fran said that she knew something happened, but did not fully testify to her healing until she had been examined by her doctor. Later she said that when she was prayed for, her ear “popped,” and her hearing was restored. The doctor confirmed that the ear had been completely healed. It has remained so ever since. This account shows a combination of three gifts—beginning with a “word of knowledge,” which brought a gift of faith, which in turn brought a gift of healing.

As wonderful as it is to have God speak and tell us what He is going to do and what part we will play in His plans (knowledge), it is equally important to have Him show us how to do our tasks (wisdom). If a mother showed and instructed a child about all the ingredients and measurements that go into making a cake, but didn’t share wisdom as to how they were to be put together—the knowledge would be to no avail. In fact, the result would be a mess. So we see that knowledge and wisdom are companion gifts; it is important to have both. The Book of Proverbs tells us, “The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright” (Prov. 15:2 KJV).