Understanding The Present Time

Understanding The Present Time Romans 13.11-14 11 And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12 The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. 14 Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh. While there is much concern about the future we must live in the present. There is much excitement and not a little anxiety and certainly a lot of press that makes for fascinating reading and sleepless nights. Yet when all the data is analyzed it becomes apparent that our crystal ball remains filled with fog no one knows for sure what will happen. Will there be collapse? Will we thrive? Will we transition? One fact, however, is certain; something Historical is happening in our lifetime! - Richard Swenson Margin 1992 In his book Dr.Swenson was talking about the need for Margins in our lives. Time, money and activity is out of control. Eating, Entertainment and Sports are too. We need to reel it back in a bunch. What is going become of our poor country? The Word of God is being disregarded. National Laws are opposed to God’s Law. Spiritual life is at a low place. The church has lost the fire of faith. What do we need today? I Chronicles 12. 32 from Issachar, men who understood the times and knew what Israel should do—200 chiefs, with all their relatives under their command; There are very few people who understand the present time. Predictions are being made about the Pandemic and the economy and the nation and church that are not accurate. We are in a time of excessive national debt, a time when the government is trying to redefine family, a time of depression, a time when we are losing young people to the Opioid Crisis. We, as believers in Jesus and followers of His should be leading the way. Of all people we should be understanding the times. We are the light of the world. This is our time! We are called by God through Paul the Apostle in his letter to the Romans to... * We are told to understand the Present Time To see with the eyes, perceive, discern the present time... a fixed and definite time, the time when things are brought to crisis, the decisive epoch waited for The return of Jesus Christ is nearer now than it has ever been before This is the context of the rest of this paragraph. Jesus warned about His Coming and recognizing the time Luke 12.56 You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is it that you don't know how to interpret this present time? Matthew 16.2-3 He replied, “When evening comes, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red and in the morning, 'Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.' You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. Luke 19. 41 As He approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it 42 and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. 43 The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. 44 They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you.” Having this understanding of the times, now we are told what we need to do The men of Issachar understood the times and knew what Israel (governed by God) should do. We are told to wake up The hour has come definite time, point of time, moment Jhn 12:23 And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour G5610 is come, that the Son of man should be glorified This is it. No more half hearted commitment to Jesus. All out for Him until the end which is close for all of us, even young people. Understanding the times can only be done if we are awake and alert. A drowsy kind of faith will miss much of what we need to know. We can only perceive the times if we our eyes are open. God is looking for broken people in this present time. Psalms 119:136 Streams of tears flow from my eyes, for your law is not obeyed. He is looking for people Whom He can cry through. Look at the Father in the Prodigal Son, the waiting Father. It easy to be disgusted. It is hard to be broken. Psalm 79.8 May Your mercy come quickly to meet us, for we are in desperate need. The night is nearly over This time of darkness is coming to an end, soon! The Day is almost here It won’t be long! We are told to put aside the deeds of darkness Get rid of any sin in your life. Ephesians 5.16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil Put away things that are sinful, be done with them! Seize each moment. We are in a Day of Evil but God is in control. We are more than conquerors through Christ! We are told to put on The Armor of Light Armor because we are in a spiritual battle, a war for souls. Ephesians 6.10-18 There are two extremes we need to avoid. * Giving too much attention to the Devil, Satan Don’t talk to him, Don’t talk too much about him. * Being unaware of him. II Corinthians 2. 10 Anyone you forgive, I also forgive. And what I have forgiven—if there was anything to forgive—I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, 11 in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes. Right behavior Living to please God I Thessalonians 4.1 As for other matters, brothers, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. Clothed in Jesus Christ Turning away from sin. We need to remember This is a message of grace and warning. A message to the church in America! This is a call to awaken, to fan into flame the gift of God which is in you. To stop the rush, to be still but to be active in the Kingdom. To be ready when that day comes and Christ returns or calls you home.