To Understand The Following Question Is A Key To Major Spiritual Advancement
WHY DOES THIS RELIGIOUS SPIRIT FIGHT WITH ALL ITS POWER TO KEEP US IN THE REALM OF NATURAL THINKING? Because there is powerful and accurate direction from God that will produce His “rest” and all of its benefits if we accurately discern the times or seasons we are in. Discerning the times produces the right decisions or “the good way.” When we walk by His Spirit and “lean not unto our own understanding,” we have stepped over and into God’s sphere and the place God desires us to all live in. In this place is His power and destiny flow in our lives. Everything we set our hand to prospers, we bare fruit for our labor, no weapon formed against us can prosper, and the plan of God is fulfilled in our lives.
Just as we would not visit a baseball stadium in midwinter to see a game, neither would we would we pray for a major harvest during a time of planting. If you know the seasons, you know what to do, how to pray, and develop an even keener sense of hearing spiritually. Many preachers and Christian TV personalities have ‘jumped on’ the prosperity message bandwagon, often promising saints great rewards if only they will sow into their “good ground” ministry. This false expectation is often sown into saints who are in various seasons of their lives and often the bottom line is failed expectations, and no fruit except the fruit of disappointment and despair. We all remember being told that our debts would soon be paid as we approached the year of Jubilee. I heard this preached for two years daily from many TV evangelists, but did it happen? Harvest cannot come into our lives corporately or individually until our appointed harvest comes. Many teachings today center around what we can see, unconsciously promoting a gospel of “the seen” or “natural thinking.” To the wise I say, beware!
Listen to the words of Jesus in Luke 12:56-59, “Hypocrites! 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? WHY DON’T YOU JUDGE FOR YOURSELVES WHAT IS RIGHT? As you are going with your adversary to the magistrate, try hard to be reconciled to him on the way, or he may drag you off to the judge, and the judge turn you over to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison. I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.”
...
Good works, good ideas, and good actions that are not originated directly from the Holy Spirit, will cause grave danger in the times we now find ourselves living in. A major key to understanding this is found in understanding that THE SIN OF PRESUMPTION OFTEN HIDES ITSELF IN NOBLE PURPOSES.
David cried out, “We do not see the signs; there is no longer any prophet, and there is no one among us who know how long” (Psalm 74:9). It would seem to be just as true today as when it was written – There are so few among us who understand the time we live in, or the days ahead. Jesus lamented that the people of His time built tombs of the prophets and approved of the forefathers killing them off. He stated, “Thus you have taken away the key of knowledge (Luke 11:49-52). Though I do not consider myself a prophet, I do feel that what is written here is prophetic and is a “key of knowledge.”
In the past, not knowing “the good way” could simply mean a financial failure, missed blessing, squabble with a spouse, but we now live in a different era, an era with greater consequences. Interestingly, in Strong’s Concordance in the Greek, the word for “a live coal, or coal of fire is ANTHRAX (Strong’s Greek 440/Romans 12:20).
The key to flowing with God despite circumstances in life, is to understand that with God there is an appointed time or due season for everything…We are encouraged in Galatians 6:9 which says, “Let us not be weary in doing good, FOR AT THE PROPER TIME, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” By knowing the seasons we are far more able to “not give up.”
“The Lord answered, who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns. I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. But suppose the servant says to himself, My master is taking a long time in coming, and he then begins to beat the menservants and maidservants and to eat and drink and get drunk. The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers. That servant who knows his master’s will and does not get ready or does not do what his master wants will be beaten with blows.”
Jesus is talking here about the POWER that is released when right actions are followed and the blessing of the steward who provides for the household in the proper season, and also the foolish steward who is unaware of the day of his master’s return. Everything hinges on the understanding of, and the correct discernment of the season – because the unjust steward did not discern this time correctly, he did not judge what is right.
The Sons of Issachar understood the times. They knew what Israel ought to do and became part of David’s Army to elevate him to the throne of Israel (I Chronicles 12:32). By reading the entire 12th Chapter of Chronicles you will see that many of Saul’s fighting men discerned the times and knew it was David’s time to be King and consequently left Saul. By not looking to the natural realm, they were able to forsake the palace with Saul for a cave with David. Take note of the fact that many of those who did not discern the times remained with Saul and died. Take note of the fact that even though Jonathan knew it to be David’s time, soul ties to his father cost him his life. Many in the Church today suffer from an inability to differentiate between the emotions of the soul and true Godly spiritual leadings. It is important to know the difference between the cold of a God appointed winter and the trap of emotional bondage.
By now it should be clear that a powerful kingdom force on earth exist in discerning the times. There is a strong and evident relationship between the understanding of the times and the operational force of right works within the season.
How much energy and resources have been wasted by not recognizing the spiritual seasons in our lives. If we are in a time of testing and being refined, it will do little good to demand God to bless us in the natural. If, on the other hand, we recognize the times we are in, it will do great good to pray, “God give me the grace to not only get through this winter in my life, but also let me learn the great spiritual truths that you desire me to have.”
“Wisdom and knowledge will be the stability of your times and the strength of your salvation” (Isaiah 33:6). Hear this Saints of God; it is not enough to simply be saved. Wisdom and knowledge are the stabilizing factor in the times we live and in and are “the strength of our salvation.” The knowledge of God and the wisdom of how to apply that knowledge will usher in one success after another. Solomon said, “People without vision perish” (Proverbs 29:18). People without vision are dying on their feet; they don’t really have a spiritual life. Hosea wrote, “My people perish for lack of knowledge.” The original language of this scripture says, “people perish” meaning, are cut down, cut off, undone, ended, cease. He gives the reason – “lack of knowledge” which means awareness, insight, and ability to discern.
Without an awareness of the season we are in, our ability to accurately discern is seriously hindered. With this ability, we will step into new spiritual truths and a greater ability to flow in the power of God.
