Word of Wisdom, Word of Knowledge, Discerning Spirits

As we come to the end of our series on “Welcoming the Gifts of the Spirit,” there are three more gifts we want to explore: word of wisdom, word of knowledge, and discerning spirits. One of the challenges in looking at these gifts is that though they are listed or mentioned by the New Testament writers, they are not necessarily explained or defined for us. Is a word of wisdom or a word of knowledge simply someone who knows a lot of information and can apply it well, much like a good Bible teacher? Or does Paul have in mind something different, something more closely related to the gift of prophecy? Is discerning spirits just the natural ability to analyze truth and find inconsistencies in people or situations, or is it referring to something different, something revelatory by which the Holy Spirit reveals the source or the influence in a person, be it the Holy Spirit or a demonic spirit?