A word of knowledge has many different uses. The Lord might minister to you through a word of knowledge. He might give you a word of knowledge to minister healing to somebody else who is sick. Or he might give you a word of knowledge to help you find something that you lost.
A word of knowledge can come in many different forms. It might come through one of your teachers. Have you ever heard a minister say something like, "There's somebody here who has a pain in their back. Who is that?" That is a word of knowledge.
If someone says that and you have a pain in your back, then raise your hand and go forward. The Lord wants to minister to you. A word of knowledge might come to you through the voice of your spirit or through a vision. Many times you hear just one word from the Lord, but you don't understand it with your head. When you get a word of knowledge, you have to take the first step in faith. Then you will see the next step.
Ananias Has A Vision
In the book of Acts, there was a Pharisee named Saul of Tarsus, who was arresting Christians and putting them in prison, because they believed in Jesus. Saul was on his way to Damascus looking for Christians when he was blinded by a great light.
Jesus spoke to Saul and told him to go into Damascus and wait until he told him what to do. While Saul was waiting, Jesus appeared to a certain disciple named Ananias saying, "Ananias, arise, and go into the street which is called Straight and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus: for behold, he prayeth, and hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight."
Ananias answered saying, "Lord, I have hear about this man, Saul of Tarsus, and how much evil he has done to the saints at Jerusalem. Are you sure you want me to go pray with him?"
Jesus told Ananias to go. So Ananias obeyed and went to the house of Judas on Straight Street. How did Ananias know that Saul was there? He knew it, because Jesus gave him a word of knowledge. The word of knowledge tells us facts about the present and the past. Ananias didn't' know where Saul was, but Jesus did.
Ananias obeyed the word of knowledge and prayed for Saul. When he did, Saul received his sight. Saul became the Apostle Paul and wrote two thirds of the New Testament epistles. Thank God for his word of knowledge!
Excerpt permission granted by Mark Harper Ministries