Word of knowledge or something else?

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Angelique

Senior Member
Aug 19, 2016
109
11
18
#1
Hi,

This happend to me over 10 years ago and I still wonder what it was.

I was on a holiday in Africa and a out of the blue a african man came up to me and asked me if I knew his name. I did not know this man, but I heard the word "backery" in my mind. It was very clear voice and not my own thinking voice.

I told the man I did not know his name. (I did not know the man) He than said to me his name was "backery" The same name I heard in my mind!!!

Than we talked a little bit about my holiday in Africa (for me it was to be polite) and I went my way and he went his way.

Now more than 10 years have past and I still did not forget this. A friend of mine told me this is a word of knowledge, but I wonder If it was. Because what happened had no meaning at all. What do you think it was?
I never had something like this happened before
 
Nov 22, 2015
20,436
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#2
I'd say yes. The word of knowledge is a supernatural manifestation of the Spirit of God giving you current day information that you did not know from a natural means.
 

Blain

The Word Weaver
Aug 28, 2012
19,213
2,548
113
#3
Hi,

This happend to me over 10 years ago and I still wonder what it was.

I was on a holiday in Africa and a out of the blue a african man came up to me and asked me if I knew his name. I did not know this man, but I heard the word "backery" in my mind. It was very clear voice and not my own thinking voice.

I told the man I did not know his name. (I did not know the man) He than said to me his name was "backery" The same name I heard in my mind!!!

Than we talked a little bit about my holiday in Africa (for me it was to be polite) and I went my way and he went his way.

Now more than 10 years have past and I still did not forget this. A friend of mine told me this is a word of knowledge, but I wonder If it was. Because what happened had no meaning at all. What do you think it was?
I never had something like this happened before
that was indeed a word of knowledge, the purpose of it is not always clear sometimes God just enjoys blessing his children. I remember I once was walking home and I had an empty energy drink in my hand and I threw it on the ground no sooner had I done this I heard a thundering voice from heaven command me saying PICK IT UP and my body acted on it's own as commanded I to this day have no idea why God spoke to me out loud like this or what the meaning of such a seemingly pointless thing was but I remember how happy and grateful I was that he would even consider speaking to me out loud like that and i figured it was just to bless me with his voice and perhaps in the same way that word of knowledge was him blessing you he does after all love interact with and bless his children.

I receive a word knowledge a lot just not by names in fact many of us receive it and may not even know it.
 

Angelique

Senior Member
Aug 19, 2016
109
11
18
#4
But does it not have to have a meaning? For it to be a word of knowledge? it was meaningless.
 
Nov 22, 2015
20,436
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#5
But does it not have to have a meaning? For it to be a word of knowledge? it was meaningless.
Maybe it was training for further ministry to help others in the future? We are "child-trained" of the Lord and He always deals with us where we are at in our lives in growing up in Christ.
 
U

Ugly

Guest
#6
But does it not have to have a meaning? For it to be a word of knowledge? it was meaningless.
God is not about parlor tricks. This was a pointless happening, so i'd just leave it as that and forget about it. So many people today are eager to find meaning in, or spiritualize, trivial things. Don't fall into that trap.
 

Magenta

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2015
55,876
26,037
113
#7
Nothing is meaningless. For one thing, what was given to you was correct. However, you ignored it. You would have had a completely different conversation with that man had you given him his name. Should this same voice ever speak to you again, you might recognize it as trustworthy. Still, if you are leery, since we are admonished to test the spirits, it may not be wrong for you to further do so. You were probably uncomfortable being so far away from home, in such a foreign land, and having such a stranger approach you in such a manner. It would disconcert me as well. You have not forgotten the incidence because it was, after all, unusual :)
 
U

Ugly

Guest
#8
Maybe it was training for further ministry to help others in the future? We are "child-trained" of the Lord and He always deals with us where we are at in our lives in growing up in Christ.
Problem with this answer is it's pure speculation with zero support. Even in her own life there is nothing to support it. It happened one time. Over 10 years later and it still has not happened again. One minor event in the entire course of her life, with no other words or messages from God on it, hardly sounds like 'training'.
 
U

UnderGrace

Guest
#9
God is not about parlor tricks. This was a pointless happening, so i'd just leave it as that and forget about it. So many people today are eager to find meaning in, or spiritualize, trivial things. Don't fall into that trap.
So true, I have had several similar experiences over the years, it never felt like any good, but rather I prayed it would stop and thankfully it did.
 
Dec 1, 2014
9,701
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#10
There is a case to be made that people who experience deja vu are enduring a synoptic hiccup in the brain where information being received isn't processed properly, but rather there is a temporary delay in the information going from one part of the brain to another. By the time the information is received by the second part, it is already a memory, thus it seems like you've been there before. Same thing could happen audibly. Who knows?
 

Blain

The Word Weaver
Aug 28, 2012
19,213
2,548
113
#11
But does it not have to have a meaning? For it to be a word of knowledge? it was meaningless.
Often things seem or appear small or meaningless to us but we as humans have such a very limited view and understanding especially so in his realm. A lot of times I experience or see things from God and don't know the meaning of it but later on as i grow closer to him and as I mature in him the meaning of it is revealed in time.

Think of it like this an ant sees the world in an entirely different perspective than I do that ants entire understanding of the world compared to mine is so vastly different that small little ant hill is his entire world and does know how vastly larger the world really is and does not have the understanding of how the world really works that I do in the same way think us as the ant and as a normal person as God. Things are hardly ever as they appear it may be meaningless to you now and you may not understand the meaning or purpose of it now but if god interacts with his children it's never meaningless even if we perceive it to be.
 
Nov 22, 2015
20,436
1,430
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#12
Problem with this answer is it's pure speculation with zero support. Even in her own life there is nothing to support it. It happened one time. Over 10 years later and it still has not happened again. One minor event in the entire course of her life, with no other words or messages from God on it, hardly sounds like 'training'.
But she is still thinking about it and God doesn't think in linear time like we do and maybe that one time was enough for what He has for her in the future in the operation of this gift of the Holy Spirit - when it is needed? We shouldn't be short-sighted and limiting the purposes of the Lord. I would encourage her to seek the Lord on the issue as it sure sounds like a word of knowledge to me.
 
F

FlowersnJesus

Guest
#13
I have had a similar experience. I think it is a word of knowledge.
 
E

eph610

Guest
#14
But does it not have to have a meaning? For it to be a word of knowledge? it was meaningless.
This was not a gift of the word of knowledge manifesting, it was the Holy Spirit showing you all things, just as Jesus said he would

A word of knowledge is a supernatural present or past fact, in the mind of God, about someone that the Holy Spirit gives you to share with. It will always be edifying, exhorting and comforting to the person receiving the word of Knowledge. It will also be a confirmation of something already in the persons spirit that is receiving it.

One of my ministers gave a word of knowledge to a person attending one of our services. While ministering with that person, my minister told the dear sister that she should not listen to the voice that was telling her to commit suicide, that God had brought her to this meeting, she further told her that you drove by this church 4x before coming into this revival meeting to rededicate yourself to Jesus Christ and finding the love of God you always have sought after and that the gun in the car was not the answer to your problems and that Jesus was.

The dear sister broke down and started crying hysterically and received from the Holy Spirit what she needed, she came back to Jesus and has my minister laid her hands on her, the woman received the peace, love and joy she had been looking for.

After she received from the Spirit, the host pastor asked the young woman to give us her testimony. She stated she did in fact drive by the church 4x arguing with God about going in, she had a loaded .357 magnum in her car. She was on her way to a secluded area to kill herself because her life of drugs, booze and sexual immorality had convinced her there was no hope left for hr. She told God that she would go in and stay, only under the condition, that a young woman with black hair and dyed purple on the ends and wearing blue jeans and a yellow top looked right at her as she walked in and he could see God's love in the girls eyes and all around her.

My minister had just taken the platform and started her message when she saw the woman walk in and looked straight at her and told her "Hey girl, did you know that God loves and his perfect love casts out fear? You are in the right place come up her I need to pray for you!

My minister had black hair and that night had dyed the ends purple, was wearing Jeans and a yellow top. She called earlier and asked my wife, "should I wear a red top or yellow top?" to which my wife said, "What has the Spirit said you should wear/"..."yellow it is, thanks!"

That young woman that was going to kill herself is now married, and a minister to young woman that were sex trafficked as she was and along with her new husband are advancing the kingdom....Somebody give God a praise!

I suggest that the Holy Spirit was showing you things to come,because he severally willed you to operate in the gift of the word of knowledge.
 
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Angelique

Senior Member
Aug 19, 2016
109
11
18
#15
God is not about parlor tricks. This was a pointless happening, so i'd just leave it as that and forget about it. So many people today are eager to find meaning in, or spiritualize, trivial things. Don't fall into that trap.
I agree, that's why im wondering what it could be. It was pointless and I think for it to be a word of knowledge it would have a meaning. And I would know it. Or God would let me know? For God is not the author of confusion. But maybe if I said hes name the conversation we had would be different... Who knows....


For example:

A few years ago I helped a friend of mine go true a difficult time in her life. She was questioning God and was depressed. We always talked for hours and it helped her. I made time to listen to her and the give her advise and help her to find to Lord again.
I concidered her my friend. And she overcame her problems.

Then when I went to a very difficult time. (Total burn-out with depression) I expected her to be there for me as I was there for her. But she wasnt. Guess she had no time. I said to myself. Im not gonna make an effort to help her anymore, because when Im in need shes not there for me.

Then I heard a voice, not a voice in my mind but in my heart (difficult to explain the difference) it said : " you did this for me" (helping her) I knew it was God that said that.
So I deceided that I would still be there for her even if she would not be there for me in difficult times, because God wanted it.
 
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BenFTW

Senior Member
Oct 7, 2012
4,834
981
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#16
It may not even be a word of knowledge and simply you hearing the voice of the Lord. You are His child, and God's word says that His sheep will know His voice. It could be a word of knowledge, but it could also be just simply you hearing from the Lord. The significance of that moment is that you hear from the Lord. That is what you should gather from that. in hearing from the Lord you can minister to people what is on God's heart. Hearing His voice is important in our lives and I think that experience is a sign to you that you hear Him. Knowing that you hear Him, you should have a relationship with the Lord, ask questions and listen to His leading.

Summed up, it could've been used to minister to that man. God knows where the direction of that conversation would've gone, but since you didn't step out with what you heard and simply went about the conversation it just lets you know you have an ear to hear. Same thing happened to me recently. My brother in law was speaking to someone in the church that we have never seen before, and the man's age came up. The guy said to guess how old he is. Immediately in my mind I saw the number twenty seven. I kept quiet and the next moment he said his age was twenty seven. This just lets me know I hear from the Lord. Likewise, this should encourage you to see what else He has to say. Fellowship with the Lord.
 
A

Ariel82

Guest
#17
I agree with Ben but also caution that you test all voices because not everything you "hear" in your heart is automatically from God. It might be your own fleshly desires, or an evil spirit seeking to lead you or the other person astray.

You have to learn how to discern good and evil and eat the meat.

However if I hear a voice and don't see the harm in doing or saying the suggestion, I have been better at doing instead of questioning. Its lead my faith to grow.
 

BenFTW

Senior Member
Oct 7, 2012
4,834
981
113
33
#18
God is not about parlor tricks. This was a pointless happening, so i'd just leave it as that and forget about it. So many people today are eager to find meaning in, or spiritualize, trivial things. Don't fall into that trap.
Trivial? Hardly. There is no way she could've known the man's name, let alone one so bizarre. That she is thinking of it ten years later ought to tell you there was some significance to it. It was memorable. It seems to me the Lord was speaking to her, regardless of whether or not it was a word of knowledge. This is more so an encouragement for her to know that she hears His voice.

A pointless happening? The audacity of some people. :rolleyes: Look a little deeper next time, and see the clear message. God speaks and His children hear. I'm sorry if that was a tad forthright, but "parlor tricks", trivial things, and a "pointless happening" all because she discerned a man's name she didn't know? One might want to be careful to discredit experiences that the Lord is working through.
 
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L

LaurenTM

Guest
#19
what is a word of knowledge for?

no purpose to this that I can see

I have had things pop into my head that are true and I had no way of knowing...don't think they were words of knowledge though

some people are just naturally more sensitive than others and there is always the chance it was a different spirit

everything supernatural does not mean it was God even for Christians

I would ask, what was the purpose? did it serve a purpose? sure, you are thinking of it 10 yrs later...but to what purpose?

here's one and it's true

years ago, while a teenager, I was at the sink doing the family dinner dishes (chores) and my brother was at the table doing his homework. I was thinking of asking him something and as I turned to ask it, he, without looking at me, answered the question that I NEVER asked.

of course at that point, he turned around with big eyes and I stared back...and somehow, there was a transference of my thoughts to him. I have other stories like that.

do I think that was some special moment with God's stamp on it? no I do not. do I think God knew? Yes I do

my answer, is simply to pray that nothing that is not of God would work through or around me...cause believe me, I have stories a-plenty but I don't go around thinking it is a special anointing or God...I think that some people just have a natural affinity for that sort of thing....

if there is no purpose to it, then I don't see it as a word of knowledge

is it something out of the ordinary? maybe for some and maybe not for others

the other day my husband was saying something and looking for a word and I supplied it...he was surprised, but being my husband he should be used to it LOL!

this is one reason why, when I see all these threads on the supernatural and dreams and visions and prophecy, I really just kind of take them with a grain of salt

because I have had so much of this kind of stuff in my life, I have asked God to just stop it. don't want dreams, visions or special events...just the reality of knowing Him and if He wants me to know anything else or if I need to know, then so be it

but far too many folk want supernatural

I caution against it, but go ahead...you will get what you want
 

Angelique

Senior Member
Aug 19, 2016
109
11
18
#20
This was not a gift of the word of knowledge manifesting, it was the Holy Spirit showing you all things, just as Jesus said he would

A word of knowledge is a supernatural present or past fact, in the mind of God, about someone that the Holy Spirit gives you to share with. It will always be edifying, exhorting and comforting to the person receiving the word of Knowledge. It will also be a confirmation of something already in the persons spirit that is receiving it.

One of my ministers gave a word of knowledge to a person attending one of our services. While ministering with that person, my minister told the dear sister that she should not listen to the voice that was telling her to commit suicide, that God had brought her to this meeting, she further told her that you drove by this church 4x before coming into this revival meeting to rededicate yourself to Jesus Christ and finding the love of God you always have sought after and that the gun in the car was not the answer to your problems and that Jesus was.

The dear sister broke down and started crying hysterically and received from the Holy Spirit what she needed, she came back to Jesus and has my minister laid her hands on her, the woman received the peace, love and joy she had been looking for.

After she received from the Spirit, the host pastor asked the young woman to give us her testimony. She stated she did in fact drive by the church 4x arguing with God about going in, she had a loaded .357 magnum in her car. She was on her way to a secluded area to kill herself because her life of drugs, booze and sexual immorality had convinced her there was no hope left for hr. She told God that she would go in and stay, only under the condition, that a young woman with black hair and dyed purple on the ends and wearing blue jeans and a yellow top looked right at her as she walked in and he could see God's love in the girls eyes and all around her.

My minister had just taken the platform and started her message when she saw the woman walk in and looked straight at her and told her "Hey girl, did you know that God loves and his perfect love casts out fear? You are in the right place come up her I need to pray for you!

My minister had black hair and that night had dyed the ends purple, was wearing Jeans and a yellow top. She called earlier and asked my wife, "should I wear a red top or yellow top?" to which my wife said, "What has the Spirit said you should wear/"..."yellow it is, thanks!"

That young woman that was going to kill herself is now married, and a minister to young woman that were sex trafficked as she was and along with her new husband are advancing the kingdom....Somebody give God a praise!

I suggest that the Holy Spirit was showing you things to come,because he severally willed you to operate in the gift of the word of knowledge.
What a wonderfull story! Al glory to God!
What a wonderfull God we serve!!!