David Diga Hernandez - 5 Types of Prophetic Gifts

So let’s get right into this. I want to first take a look at the different types of prophetic giftings that exist. There is one prophetic ministry, and under that category, there are many different types of prophetic gifts. So, number one, let’s examine the first one: the word of knowledge. This is found in 1 Corinthians chapter 12, verses 7 and 8. The scripture says, «But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.» In other words, it’s not given to this person for their own glorification or to personally benefit from this gift. These gifts are given so that people might minister to others. In verse 8, the scripture states, «For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another, the word of knowledge by the same Spirit.» The word of knowledge is akin to what we see in John chapter 4, where Jesus confronts the woman at the well and reveals details about her life. I have had experiences with the word of knowledge myself. One time, while ministering in a small group setting, the Lord revealed to me to tell a man, «I see that there’s a woman in your life who was recently in a car accident, and she drove a silver car. God says the word of the Lord to her is…» and then I provided her a very personal word for her life. It was the word of knowledge—knowing the information about her that others would not have known except by divine revelation. That was what opened the door to her heart; it was what made her receptive to the word of the Lord that was ministered to her. The word of knowledge allows you to perceive the situation supernaturally. When I look at an individual, I can discern all the different aspects of their lives: the various problems and circumstances. That insight is revealed by the word of knowledge. It’s when you see the situation or receive information in a divine way. The knowledge you receive may seem mundane to someone who doesn’t know it, but to the person receiving this knowledge—the fact that you knew their name or their exact situation or what they prayed about last night in their bedroom—that is what opens them up to receiving the prophetic word of the Lord through that gift of the word of knowledge. So that’s number one: the word of knowledge, which allows you to see the situation. Number two is the word of wisdom. This doesn’t necessarily allow you to see the situation; instead, it enables you to see the solution. This is also found in the same portion of scripture that we just read: 1 Corinthians chapter 12, verses 7 through 8. An example of this might be the daily navigation of a ministry, a business, or some task that God has given you to perform. This wisdom—knowing what to do in each circumstance—is itself a prophetic expression. With the word of knowledge, I receive knowledge supernaturally; with the word of wisdom, I receive wisdom supernaturally. When I first began in ministry, I was 13 years old. I never went to business school; I never studied media; I didn’t know the ins and outs of broadcasting and communication. It was the Holy Spirit who granted me wisdom for each circumstance He wanted me to understand. This reminds me of Solomon in the book of Proverbs—the man was full of divine wisdom. It also brings to mind Joseph and the solutions he provided. Remember, Joseph was not only able to give wisdom; he was also able to interpret dreams, which was another prophetic expression. Here, we see the word of wisdom, which I believe is applied when interpreting someone’s dream or discerning the spiritual meaning behind a vision. So, number one: the word of knowledge helps you see the situation. Number two: the word of wisdom helps you see the solution. Number three: discernment, which allows you to see the spirit. This is found in 1 Corinthians chapter 12, verse 10, where the scripture says, «To another, the working of miracles; to another, prophecy; to another, the discerning of spirits; to another, diverse kinds of tongues; to another, the interpretation of tongues.» Here, we must slow down because I want you to understand that being able to see into the spirit is not the same as being cynical, critical, judgmental, or negative about people. Often, people say things like, «Oh, I can see things in people that nobody else can see,» but what they’re really talking about is their own suspicions and negativity, which is not necessarily always the Holy Spirit. Certainly, God will reveal when someone is coming in the wrong spirit or expose people with such intent. However, if you’re someone who consistently sees the negative in people, that’s not a gift; it’s a flaw within yourself that you need to work on. If all you ever see is the negative while everyone else thinks the person is good, that mindset is not applying the spiritual gift known as the discerning of spirits. Instead, it is criticism, negativity, and legalism—a religious mindset.