Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. Rom 8:37 NKJV

The crown jewel in the arsenal of the born again one is the word of wisdom. In combination with its brother and sister revelation gifts, and the gift of faith, it is the supernatural practical application of the power of God. It is the answer to, what do I do now, Lord? It is the inner sense behind saying and doing the right thing at the right time. It is the supernatural ability that enables the born again one to go anywhere under any circumstances and be more than a conqueror.

One of the great stories of the word of wisdom which you may never have heard of is Howard Carter and Lester Sumrall. Howard Carter was a great man of God, in his forties, from England, and twenty-year-old Lester Sumrall was called to be his protégé. This was in the 1930’s – no internet, no GPS, cars and telephones were relatively new inventions, as were airplanes, and Lester Sumrall had to find Howard Carter.

They had met in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. Lester went home to Texas and Howard left for the West Coast. Where in the world was Howard Carter? Sumrall didn’t have the faintest idea. Carter could have been anywhere but Sumrall was led to go to Los Angeles. There in the largest church in the city, Lester found that Carter had been there, and had asked the pastor that when Lester showed up, that he would take care of him.

Sumrall was then led to another church in Long Beach California where again he discovered that Howard Carter had been there, and had asked the pastor to take care of Lester when he showed up. (Are you starting to realize that HC was a prophet?) Again, realize that there was no communication between the two, no phone calls, no texts, no email, no internet, NOTHING! There he discovers Carter has left for the Orient. Some said Japan, others said China, others…maybe India. Where in the world was Howard Carter?

The Lord tells Lester, by the word of wisdom, “Go to the bottom of the world and start up!” To Lester, that means Australia. So, he boards a cattle boat, with twelve dollars, and heads for Sydney. The boat stops in Auckland New Zealand. Sumrall needs a break from the boat, as you can imagine, and looks for the only Assemblies of God church in town. There he meets a man, again ‘totally out of the blue,’ who has a note for him from Howard Carter…

The young twenty-year-old is on the adventure of his life! Howard, via the note, tells him to go to Sydney, start ministry there, and he will meet him in a few months. The Lord is testing Sumrall’s obedience. Howard Carter was only one hundred miles away! But Lester goes to Sydney anyway.

Finally, after meeting in Arkansas five months before, Sumrall and Carter meet up in Sydney Australia, and thus begin almost a decade of ministry to the poorest, most unreached nations on earth, Carter as the prophet and bible teacher, and Sumrall as the evangelist and healing minister (actually, both apostles – you can google these guys!)

The Lord has had me go a number of times into foreign nations with just the name of an individual, to find them, and I’ve been successful. But that’s a story for another day…

The word of wisdom is most helpful in problem solving, avoiding trouble, deliverance from worry and effective planning.

No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. 1 Cor 10:13 NKJV

The problem-solving aspect of the word of wisdom works like this – you ask very specific questions of the Lord and you wait on His answers. The reason we get vague answers is because we ask vague questions. Get your questions to be very specific about your problem and its solution, ask them, pray in tongues while you are waiting, wait and listen, and you will hear from Him. It will work!

But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear. John 8:6 NKJV

Focusing on Him, tracing the sacred name of God, waiting and listening to get the perfect response…

There is an art to real listening. It is the ability to shut everything else out and concentrate on the One speaking, in this case, God Himself. The supreme compliment to any speaker is rapt attention. As a public speaker I can see when folks are locked in or checked out. If they are checked out, then I must do something to get them back again, or just shut the whole thing down. I never blame my audience if they aren’t listening, because they came, wanting to listen. If you will quiet yourself enough to listen to the Holy Spirit, you will find He is the most entertaining, the most wonderful Speaker!

So he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God. Acts 10:4-5 NKJV

Another thing to consider – sometimes I will pray and pray and wait and wait, and nothing comes. So, I rest, and go at it again, and then, like a dam breaking, a flood comes. At times it seems much prayer must be built up to release the rivers of God…never despair of yet-to-be-answered prayers!

‘How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? For scorners delight in their scorning, And fools hate knowledge. Turn at my rebuke; Surely I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you. Prov 1:22-23 NKJV

Proverbs 1:20-33 is a very enlightening section of scripture. It very clearly shows why God doesn’t answer certain prayer. We see that God is reaching out with wisdom, wisdom that will cause us to dwell safely and not be afraid of evil. Its important to note that God is initiating the conversation. He is reaching out, saying, My wisdom is available. That’s love talking! We can also conclude that to reject God’s wisdom is to reject God Himself. Yikes!

Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me. Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord… Prov 1:28-29 NKJV

The Lord is not aloof as He is sometimes portrayed but is deeply involved with every human’s life, seeking to reach us, earnestly desiring to bring us to Himself. Man either rejects or accepts Him. Thus, He is perfectly positioned as the Just Judge at the end of time. The Lord will keep us out of trouble if we will continually accept His timely wisdom!

But whoever listens to Me will dwell safely, and will be secure, without fear of evil. Prov 1:33 NKJV

Finally, lets consider the aspect of the word of wisdom revealing the future, bringing deliverance from worry and the ability to effectively plan.

…and He will tell you things to come. John 16:13 NKJV

The inward witness is perhaps the most common form of revelation. It’s an inner knowing, an inner awareness, that’s always ‘on.’ Worry is a sense of dread based on past experiences and a future of uncertainty. The word of wisdom acting through the inward witness can crush future uncertainty. Worried about something? Check your inward witness. Most likely your inward witness will tell you that you have nothing to worry about; in fact, it will set the stage for delightful outcomes. But if your inward witness does indicate there is a problem, then go deal with it. If the problem is insurmountable with your knowledge and training, then employ the word of wisdom as the problem-solving anointing. Don’t worry…listen! Are you getting this?

And the dream was repeated to Pharaoh twice because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass. Gen 41:32 NKJV

Planning is faith for the future. I’ve always planned, and I continue to plan. The Lord has laid out a vision for us for the next five years, the next ten years so that generations to come all over the world can have the gifts of the Spirit and the power of God. Planning is hope anticipated. The word of wisdom can inform your plan and guide your plan. You learn to tack your sailboat to the leading of the wind to reach your goal, your safe haven. The word of wisdom is the crown jewel in your arsenal of faith. Employ it wisely as you walk by the Spirit. Love you!

Remember dear ones, we must be about our Father’s business…