While I do not believe that we should expect words of knowledge or wisdom from Jesus 24-7, the Lord does give such information.  For more information on this topic please read my books THE BABY ECHOLALIA OF CHRISTENDOM AND KINGDOM LESSONS.

• John 14:26– But the Comforter, [which is] the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

• 1 Corinthians 14:1-40 – Follow after charity, and desire spiritual [gifts], but rather that ye may prophesy.

•  1 Corinthians 12:8 – For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit

There are two problems.  We can fall into error in believing the Lord has given us information and he has not.  We may receive information and then find we have filtered the message of the Holy Spirit through the grid work of our preexisting doctrines or personal beliefs.

What makes the issue more challenging is if we receive information from the Lord by word of knowledge, dream or vision and then rationalize it away we put ourselves in a precarious position.   Many of us, myself included, have opined that it would be great if the Lord would give us direct knowledge about an issue or question so that we can know his will and do it.  To the extent that we are truly unsure in a given situation, I am certain that the Lord factors that in if such a thing happens.

However, there is definitely a good news bad and bad news side to this issue.  The more clearly he speaks to us the more responsible we are to do his will.  The less clearly he has spoken to us the less responsible we are for following his will.  In general we should seek to know the teachings of the Bible and use that as our compass, while be open yet careful considering the possibility of special revelation.

That said each time we rationalize away the still small voice of the Lord or special revelation knowledge, the dimmer our ability to hear such communication will become.  For example

• James 4:2, 3 “Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.”

 

• Philippians 2:3, 4 “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.”

 

• Matthew 5:23, 24 “Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.”

 

• Matthew 6:14, 15 “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

 

 

• Mark 11:25, 26 “And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.”

 

• 1 Peter 3:7 “Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.”

  Psalm 66:17-19 “I cried unto him with my mouth, and he was extolled with my tongue. If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me: But verily God hath heard me; he hath attended to the voice of my prayer.”

 

• Isaiah 59:2 “But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.”

 

• Matthew 7:7, 8 “ Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.”

 

 

So using the scripture as a guide line, selfish prayers, doubtful prays, insincere prayers, or praying while there is an issue between you and another brother or sister or a family member hinders your prayers.   Praying while you are holding onto confessed sin will also hinder your prayers. Much in the same way, if you hear from God in a special way, and then rationalize it away or fail to follow his directions bears a penalty and dulls your ability to hear from the Lord in the future.

I am sure you have heard of water wells.  What you may not know is that if debris such as rocks, garbage and brush are dumped into a well or fall into well it may hinder the quality of the water or keep you from getting your bucket into the water to draw up the water when you need it.  This is a good word picture of what happens in our life if we don’t confess our sin, pray through the issues mentioned above, such as doubt or selfishness or fail to follow directions that the Lord has given you.  These are good reasons to confess our sins to the Lord and one another daily and to periodically take time to get alone with the Lord and ask forgiveness for such things and get a fresh start.  Jesus is good and merciful as well as just and fair.  He not only will help in such times but has a strong desire to do so.

Photo of wishing well from Wikipedia.