Description

Definition
This is the ability to understand truth and know facts that would be unknown by natural means. It has nothing to do with education, learning, training, or general knowledge. Instead, the person intuitively has specific knowledge about a situation. Often they cannot identify the source of the knowledge or the means by which they received it; they simply know it intuitively.
“Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit” (1 Cor. 12:7-8). The New Testament is full of examples of people knowing things through intuitive revelation, including the following. Jesus knew Peter would find a coin in a fish’s mouth (Matt. 17:27). He knew what His accusers were thinking (Luke 5:22). He knew the Samaritan woman had five previous husbands and was living with a man to whom she was not married (John 4:18). Peter knew Ananias and Sapphira had lied about the price of the property they sold (Acts 5:3-4).
First Corinthians reveals the spirit as the source of the knowledge. Because the Greek text of the New Testament doesn’t capitalize the word “spirit,” such knowledge might come from either the Holy Spirit or the human spirit. It is a message or word of knowledge; a limited amount, not a wealth of knowledge about a subject. We also see how specific the knowledge will be–precise details. Notice that the received knowledge itself is not always significant, rather it enhances or promotes the work God wants to do. In the coin incident, the money paid the required tax, but more importantly it strengthened Peter’s faith in Jesus and in God’s provision. In the Samaritan woman’s case, it made her realize Jesus was not an ordinary man, and that realization was a key to her salvation and that of others in her town (John 4:39-41). In Ananias and Sapphira’s case, it demonstrated God’s demand for integrity among His people and led to an extremely dramatic event, which in turn caused those who heard about it to fear God (Acts 5:11).
This aptitude primarily involves speech rather than action because its focus is imparting information. The revealed knowledge should motivate someone to act, usually the person to whom the information is relevant, but this is a result of the knowledge being revealed, not a part of the process. Because “the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power” (1 Cor. 4:20), the intent of the revealed knowledge is to produce a specific result, to encourage action, or to release power, not simply to communicate information.
Because you can receive revelation knowledge, you will often have insight or a perspective about a situation that others will not have. You will frequently know facts or information intuitively, being aware of details you did not receive through your senses or general intellect. You might have insight into the nature of a situation that can help those involved deal with it more effectively.
Overall, you may be a very intuitive person, having a heightened sensitivity to the spiritual realm. In fact, you might be spiritually intense, strongly focused on the spiritual realm and fluent in such matters. The more you rely on the Holy Spirit rather than your own spirit, the more accurate your insight and revelations will become.
Your ability can be very effective when an innovative breakthrough or solution is needed. Intuitively derived knowledge can be invaluable where other information is inadequate because it reveals more of a person or situation’s imperceptible nature, which can be vitally important. Intuitive insight can help someone develop a better approach to their situation and help them be more effective.
You may have difficulty identifying valid impressions, thinking that everything that pops into your mind is legitimate. It is possible for you to form a wrong impression, then make unsubstantiated statements or wild accusations based on your impression.

Typical Characteristics
● Intuitively knowledgeable of details or specific information.
● Frequently offer insight that helps people with their problems.
● Sensitive to details others are not aware of.

Tendencies
Priorities
● Information and knowledge. These are the essence of your aptitude and are very important to you. Because your focus is intuitively derived information about a specific situation, you do not get such information through study or investigation.
● Spiritual. Your knowledge is spiritually derived, rather than intellectually, so the spiritual realm probably will be important to you. The more sensitive you are to the Holy Spirit, the more accurate your revelations will become.

Misunderstandings
Because our culture is so intellect-oriented, people’s first reaction might be to reject what you say because they cannot understand how you could know what you do. Their curiosity may cause them to reconsider, however, and be open to what God wants to do.
Others may avoid you out of fear of what you might “know” about them. Those who do not accept the reality of the spiritual realm might consider you strange or intimidating, depending on whether they believe what you say. They may even consider you a palm reader or a witch, since most people are familiar with occult revelation knowledge.

Vocations and Roles
Your ability to obtain knowledge intuitively enables you to help others with their problems, especially when they do not have enough information or understanding about the situation.

Perversions

Self-Centeredness
(Perverts your aptitude by focusing it on you, emphasizing the pleasure or fulfillment it gives you.)
You might very naturally flaunt your ability to know what no one else can because you want to impress others. Pride might lead you to resort to intellectual knowledge, especially if you do not understand the spiritual realm, causing you to specialize in little-known facts you can use to impress people or simply satisfy your desire to know.

Extremes
(Perverts by exaggerating, taking your characteristics and tendencies to extremes.)
As a Christian you might interpret most impulsive thoughts to be revelations from God, insisting your thoughts are true and condemning others for not having enough faith to believe you. You may become irrational in your thinking and behavior as you become increasingly intuitive, making foolish statements based on imaginary information.

Control
(Self-centeredness makes you want to be in control, and you struggle for control in a way that is unique to your character.)
When faced with conflict, you are likely to use information to gain control, possibly by making accusations or intimidating. When questioned about your information, you probably claim to just “know” it, as if that should settle the matter. You may even try to make the evidence fit your accusation.

Redemption

Putting on Important Traits
Certain godly character traits are especially important to you. Consciously developing the following traits will improve the quality and effectiveness of your intuitive revelation.

● Humility (Considers self relatively unimportant compared to others; prevents using abilities for one’s own satisfaction.) Humility prevents you from wanting to impress people with your ability to know something hidden from others. It also allows others to reject what you say without condemning them.
● Agape (Considers others’ welfare, needs, interests, and desires more important than your own; motivates you to act for others’ benefit regardless of personal impact.) Agape motivates you to use your intuitive insight or perspective to help others.
● Goodness (Action on another’s behalf, whether pleasant or unpleasant to them; motivates you to do what is best for others.) This motivates you to share intuitive knowledge appropriately to benefit the person involved, especially if it is unpleasant.
● Faith or faithfulness (Firm conviction regarding something for which there is no proof; action based on such conviction.) Because you receive this knowledge intuitively, you do not have proof of its validity yet a revelation from God will be completely accurate, so faith can be very important.

Repentance, Renewing Your Mind
(The changes you need to make in the way you think, including your attitudes, standards, priorities, and perspective.)
Your role is to use intuitive revelation for the benefit of others, to give them the information or insight they need to solve a problem or overcome a difficulty. You serve them by offering the information, and then you honor them by allowing them to decide what to do with it.

Denying and Humbling Yourself
(Rejecting your own desires and self-interests. Refusing to be motivated by desire for recognition or credit for the results.)
Because information is power, you must refuse the temptation to use intuitive revelation to gain power, which includes trying to make someone believe what you say. Allow the person to judge the validity of the information and choose how to respond. Your purpose is to help others by providing information, not to draw attention to yourself.

Taking up Your Cross
(Accepting that which has potential for great harm, threatens to break you down, or reveals your inadequacies.)
Even if your revelation is accurate, the person may deny its relevance or ignore it for a long time. They may later respond to it without your knowing what happened. In such cases, you have no way of knowing whether what you say is correct, so you must offer your revelation and accept the possibility that you may be wrong, leaving the results to God.

Following Jesus
(How you uniquely imitate Jesus by doing what He would in your situation.)
Jesus used revelation knowledge to encourage specific responses and to release God’s power in a person’s life or circumstances.

Becoming Like a Child
(Accepting what God gives you, believing what He tells you, trusting Him to take care of you, and simply doing what He says.)
When you are confident God has shown you something, accept the knowledge He revealed and expect Him to show you how to use it. Then do exactly what He says.