The Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation
(week 38/08)
Olubi Johnson
Ephesians 1:16-23 (LITV): I also do not cease giving thanks on your behalf, making mention of you in my prayers, (17) that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the full knowledge of Him, (18) the eyes of your mind having been enlightened, for you to know what is the hope of His calling, and what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, (19) and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us, the ones believing according to the working of His mighty strength (20) which He worked in Christ in raising Him from the dead; yea, He seated Him at His right hand in the heavenlies, Psalms 110:1 (21) far above all rule, and authority, and power, and lordship, and every name having been named, not only in this age, but also in the coming age; (22) and He “put all things under His feet” and gave Him to be Head over all things to the assembly, Psalms 8:6 (23) which is His body: the fullness of the One filling all things in all;
Here, we see Paul praying for the Ephesians to have a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of God.
What then is this spirit of wisdom and revelation?
Revelation is knowledge that God shines into your mind from the Holy Spirit through your human spirit:
2 Corinthians 4:6 (ESV): For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
The light of revelation knowledge can be likened to a spiritual ‘laser’ beam that gives precise, correct knowledge, like physical laser beams give precise correct measurements.
Physical LASER beams are: L—light, A—amplified by the S–simulated E—emission of R—radiation.
Spiritual LASER beams are: L—light from the written Word, A—amplified by the S-Holy Spirit through the E—emission of R—revelation.
Conversely sense knowledge is knowledge that comes into your mind through your five physical senses.
You cannot know God through sense knowledge because God is a spirit and spiritual
things are invisible or imperceptible to the physical senses: you can only know God through revelation knowledge.
Now, even when you have revelation knowledge you need to have spiritual understanding and wisdom to apply that knowledge profitably so it can bring forth fruit in your life:
Colossians 1:9-10 (ESV): And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, (10) so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.
Furthermore, observe that even though the Ephesians were born-again and filled with the Holy Spirit they did not have revelation knowledge so Paul had to pray for them to have a spirit of wisdom and revelation.
So it is vital for us to get both the spirit of revelation and wisdom by:
1. Getting and maintaining an attitude of humility, by submitting to the written Word and spiritual authority (1Peter 5.5) to continue to receive the spirit of wisdom and revelation:
Proverbs 11:2 (ESV): When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.
Proverbs 14:6 (AMP): A scoffer seeks Wisdom in vain [for his very attitude blinds and deafens him to it], but knowledge is easy to him who [being teachable] understands.
2. Prophetic preaching and teaching imparts revelation knowledge; apostolic preaching and teaching will further impart the necessary wisdom to apply the revelation the prophetic anointing imparts. So to have both the spirit of wisdom and revelation we need to receive both prophetic and apostolic teaching. This is why Paul prayed for both a spirit of wisdom and revelation and of course he was both an apostle and a prophet.
3. Now it is only those who pray and continue to pray for the spirit of wisdom and revelation as a daily habit that keep and increase in the revelation imparted to them through apostolic and prophetic preaching and teaching. Furthermore, revelation from the Holy Spirit through the written Word should never stop flowing to us: it should be continuous and progressive.
4. Pray regularly with tongues and travail to get the hidden and deep wisdom of God by revelation:
1 Corinthians 14:2 (AMP): For one who speaks in an [unknown] tongue speaks not to men but to God, for no one understands or catches his meaning, because in the [Holy] Spirit he utters secret truths and hidden things [not obvious to the understanding].
1 Corinthians 2:7 (MKJV): But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, which God has hidden, predetermining it before the world for our glory;
1 Corinthians 2:10 (MKJV): (10) But God has revealed them to us by His Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, yea, the deep things of God.
Psalms 42:7 (LITV): Deep calls to deep through the voice of Your waterfalls; all Your waves and Your billows have passed over me.
5. Fast regularly as a weekly habit
Isaiah 58:6, 8 (ESV): “Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? 8 Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.
If you do and maintain these things you will begin and continue to increasingly get the spirit of wisdom and revelation that will give you ‘epignosis’—the precise correct knowledge of God:
Ephesians 1:17 (KJV): ThatG2443 theG3588 GodG2316 of ourG2257 LordG2962 JesusG2424 Christ,G5547 theG3588 FatherG3962 of glory,G1391 may giveG1325 unto youG5213 the spiritG4151 of wisdomG4678 andG2532 revelationG602 inG1722 the knowledgeG1922 of him:G848
Below is the definition of the Greek word ‘epignosis’
G1922
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epigno’sis
Thayer Definition:
1) precise and correct knowledge
1a) used in the NT of the knowledge of things ethical and divine
