Luke 2:25-26,34-35 -And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ…Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against (yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” NKJV
Sticking with the theme of Jesus’ birth, today’s key text is actually not long after His birth. Luke informs us that according to the Law, every male that opened the womb was holy to the Lord. Since Jesus was Mary’s firstborn, He was presented at the temple with the appropriate sacrificial offering. However, on that day, the Lord impressed upon Simeon to go into the temple, and there he saw the Messiah!
The gifts I will briefly mention today are called the “revelation gifts”, they reveal something to someone. The power gifts are action gifts that causes things to happen, but the revelation gifts reveal something, unknown, to an individual. Let’s take a look at these important gifts.
In our key text, Simeon came into the temple and beheld Jesus. Then he shared some things by the Spirit. These revelation gifts can be prophetic, but when they manifest, they are gifts unto themselves. Simeon revealed by the Spirit:
- Jesus was a light for revelation to the Gentiles
- Jesus was the Glory of the people of Israel
- Jesus was destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel
- Jesus was a sign that would be spoken against so that the thoughts of many hearts would be revealed
- And a sword will pierce Mary’s soul.
True to the word spoken to Mary that day was the very fulfillment of all that he said.
The revelation gifts are found in 1 Corinthians 12 and are: the word of wisdom, the word of knowledge, and the discerning of spirits. I believe Simeon gave Mary a word of wisdom. Let’s look at what each gift reveal.
While there are differing opinions on how each of these gifts may or may not operate, I am just sharing from what I have studied through the years. This is not intended to be an in-depth study, just a “wet your appetite” to hope you will want to learn more about the gifts.
I just want to say, if I have failed to say it already, that all of these gifts are supernatural. They are not operated in the flesh, and if they are, they have become polluted. However, when the Spirit of God manifests these gifts through an individual, they are amazing.
The gift of word of wisdom. It is important to note that this is a word, meaning the person with this gift isn’t some “ole wise one” that everyone seeks for wisdom. And this wisdom is not to be equated with the wisdom that comes from reading and studying the word, or even age and life’s experience. This wisdom is best described as a word from God, a divine revelation that shares the purpose and plans of God. Some say this is the gift that helps us to know what to do with the word of knowledge, but if I am going off of my key text, as a word of wisdom, I would say it reveals the future.
This word of wisdom can come in a number of ways. Generally speaking, someone operating as a prophet would be given a word of wisdom for the Church, the Body, or even an individual. But God can, and will use someone who is not considered a prophet.
In the New Testament, Ananias was given a word about Saul. God revealed to Ananias that He had a work for Saul to do, that Saul was a chosen vessel to Him, and that Saul would bear His name before the Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. And lastly, the Spirit revealed that Saul would suffer much for His Name! Why did God tell Ananias all of this? Well, mainly because He wanted Ananias to go to see Saul and to lay hands on him; but Ananias was concerned about Saul’s background as a persecutor of the believers. Giving Ananias this information caused him to risk it all, so to speak, to do the will of God.
Then there is the word of knowledge. This gift operates in revealing information about an individual or event. It can also be seen in this same situation with Saul and Ananias. God told Ananias that Saul was praying. He told Ananias that Saul was at Judas’ house on the street called Straight. He told Ananias that Saul had a vision of a man named Ananias coming in and laying hands on him that he might receive his sight. All of this information, God gave to Ananias, that he didn’t have prior knowledge of, so that he confidently go and do God’s bidding.
The gift of discerning of spirits. This is not occult or New Age stuff. God really does give certain individuals, in the body, the ability to see into the spirit realm. The spirits that you can be allowed to see, by the will of the Spirit, are angelic beings and demonic beings. The discerning of spirits also involve being able to hear in the spirit realm, so your spiritual eyes and ears are open to the spirit realm.
This is not the gift of discernment. There is no such gift. People say this when they feel they have a “good” read on people personalities or character. Witchcraft or psychological insight that tries to delve into a person’s spirit is forbidden by the Father. That’s not this gift. This is about being able to determine when the demonic realm is really in operation, or when angelic beings are really around, and why they are present.
Remember in Acts 16 when Paul was followed by a young woman who kept saying that they were servants of the most high God? But then Paul turned around and rebuked the spirit that was talking through her. That was Paul discerning the evil spirit using her. The problem wasn’t with what she was saying, the problem was with who was saying it. As a fortune teller, Paul knew that evil spirit was trying to make it seem as if it was validating Paul and the others, thus, invalidating them. Sometimes the wrong person can say the right thing about you and it will work against you, because of that person. That is what was happening.
These revelation gifts, as I have mentioned, can come through a prophet. But God can also manifest these gifts in other ways, like dreams and visions. Throughout the New Testament, and even in the Old Testament there are examples of Jesus, and His disciples, and many others, receiving information, supernaturally, about something or someone. These gifts are designed to build our faith, and to assist us in our walk with the Lord.
I’ve decided not to share personal experiences or the experiences of others for these gifts. I know they have and can be abused. More so than the power gifts. But as I mentioned before, I just wanted to remind you that He has given us revelation gifts. They operate at the will of the Spirit and not of man. They can be amazing, but they are not for entertainment or showmanship. Anyone operating in these gifts, and receiving money to do so, pollutes the gift and brings reproach to the Holy Spirit. Yet, anyone operating in these gifts according to the Spirit of God, glorifies the Father, draw people to Jesus, and allow the Holy Spirit to use them for His Glory! Wonderful Jesus!
Wonderful Jesus! 