Foundations 17 Follow-up Bible School 4 Discerning the times

Not the ‘what’ of the signs, but the ‘how’ and the ‘why’

This week, we want to look at one specific aspect of discernment – understanding the times that we are living in. Rather than studying the actual signs of the times (there are many other resources for that – some sound and some not quite so sound!), we will seek to understand some principles around how and why we are to discern the times, and not just end-times!

The ekklesia has had to discern this over all the centuries since Jesus taught the necessity of such discernment and the Holy Spirit gave us all that we need to know in the Scriptures, so this is not just an end-times occupation for Jesus’ disciples! Although, it does become more important as we approach the end-times, which many believe that we are living in now.

Discerning the times

1. Kairos (season) or chronos (period of time)

Kairos is use of a season or an epoch, whereas chronos is use for a period of calendar time or an interval.

Both words come in 1 Thess. 5:1 Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you.

Didn’t need to explain for they knew! Knew what? That they were ‘of the day’ and so were watching, and not ‘of the night’ so that ‘that Day would not come on them like a thief’ – wouldn’t it be wonderful to know what they knew!

Macro – Former times and last times (Kairos) Age of the law and age of the gospel (Heb. 9:9-10); fullness of the times (Eph. 1:10)
Micro – Knowing the season
- Men of Issachar “having wisdom (‘a mental putting together’) with regard to the times (kairos), knowing what Israel should do” 1 Chron. 12:32
- Fighting yesterday’s battles
  Finding the right hills to die on?
- Fighting the wrong battles
  where is the battleground? The world, the flesh and the devil – has it ever moved?
  core or peripheral issues? Not dragged by our emotions (but not unfeeling either!)
- One of the enemy’s tactics is distractions, pulling us onto his agenda
Preach Christ and Him crucified, raised, ascended and made Lord and Christ – in season and out of season (opportune, unfavourable – different words)

2. How do we discern the times?

Know the Word, not about the Word, or charts or people’s ideas!
Discerning the times – not predicting them – but seeing where the trends are heading and warning people! We need to explain the culture of society to our society – come back to this
Understand the culture 1 Cor. 9:19-22
Alexander MacLaren: “The great principle incumbent on all Christians, with a view to the salvation of others, is to go as far as one can without untruthfulness in the direction of finding points of resemblance and contact with those to whom we would commend the Gospel. There is a base counterfeit of this apostolic example, which slurs over distinctive beliefs, and weakly tries to please everybody by differing from nobody… Mr. Facing-both-ways is not a powerful evangelist.”
But he goes on to warn of the danger of not finding those points of contact:
“We can do no good by standing aloof on a height and flinging down the Gospel to the people below. They must feel that we enter into their circumstances, prejudices, ways of thinking, and the like, if our words are to have power. “
(Expositions of Holy Scripture 1904-1910)
How Paul presented the gospel differed (Acts 17 Mars Hill, then to Corinth Acts 18) but he always presented Christ – crucified, risen, ascended and Lord and Saviour
Know your enemy
We mustn’t be driven by his agenda. Understand the moral forces behind what you see happening. Joe Boot, Wilberforce Academy, books like “The Evolution of the West” by Christian Nick Spencer, “The Strange Death of Europe” and “The Madness of Crowds” by non-Christian Douglas Murray; Jordan Peterson; but where are the voices of the mainstream churches? Or our voices, for that matter!
Be watchful, alert
Armies don’t win by sleeping!

3. Why should we be alert?

Necessity of watching – Jesus said so! The New Testament repeats it about 30 times

– gregoreuo G1127 – from G1453 egeiro; to keep awake, that is, watch (literally or figuratively): – be vigilant, wake, (be) watch (-ful).
– egeirō G1453- incorporates the idea of collecting one’s faculties
– agrupneo G69 – to keep awake, sleeplessness

Not stay awake, which may be involuntary; this is deliberate – keep awake!
Not necessarily watching for something or someone, but being alert, aware of what’s going on, expecting the unexpected
Note context of watching – gregoreuo (g) and agrupneo (a) used interchangeably
- That we enter not into temptation (g) Mark 14:37,38 – experiencing adversity to put your faith to the proof
- Looking out for ourselves and others, especially regarding doctrine (g) Acts 20:31; 1 Cor. 16:13; Rev. 3:2; (a) Luke 21:36; Heb, 13:17
- Continuing in prayer (g) Col. 4:2; (a) Eph. 6:18
- For the return of our Lord (g) Matt. 24:42, 25:13; Mark 13:35;37; Luke 12:37; 1 Thess. 5:6, 10; (a) Mark 13:33
- Sanctification in the light of the Lord’s return (g) Rev. 16:15;
- How we live our lives (egeirō) Rom. 13:11; Eph. 5:14 – observing what is going on in our own lives, and around us in society, and ‘collecting our faculties’ to use our knowledge of the Lord and of His Word to interpret things
Jesus’ rebuked the Jews of His day for their lack of understanding
Matt. 16:2-3 signs of the times (Jesus did all the signs of the Messiah and publicly fulfilled prophecies like Zech.9:9);
Luke 19:44 time of your visitation (Dan. 9:24-27; book of Enoch gave 70 generations from Enoch to Messiah – Luke enumerates them!)
What ‘watching’ means
- Like men that wait Luke 12:35-40
- Purity of life Rev.3:4; Titus 2:11-13; 2 Pet. 3:11,14
- Eager anticipation 2 Tim. 4:8; Heb. 9:28; 1 Thess. 1:10; 2 Pet. 3:12
- Strengthen the things that remainRemember-Hold fast-Repent Rev. 3:2-3

So we are not looking for signs, but for the Saviour (Phil. 3:20) even though we don’t know when He’s coming (Luke 12:37) and readiness is not having it all planned out but living a holy life. (Planning committee or welcome committee?)

Lessons from Rev. 3: 1-6 Be watchful

Strengthen the things that remain – good things which have been weakened by their incomplete works, and are about to die (a word for today!?!) –we follow One who “finished the work” of salvation but left good works prepared beforehand that we should walk in them Eph. 2:10. “I have fought the good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith” 2 Tim. 4:7
Remember – what you have received and heard – the sound doctrine handed down from the Lord Jesus and the Apostles in Scripture
Hold fast – don’t let it slip or be compromised
Repent – of failures and incomplete works, of things done in the flesh
Walk in purity – clothed in Jesus’ righteousness (not self-righteousness) Zech. 3:3-4

Lessons from Luke 21:28-36 general warnings – be:

– Aware (v.29-31)

– Assured (v.32-33)

– Watching (v.34-35) in every season (v. 36) Luke 12:35-40; Luke 19:13 Occupy til I come (Be about My business)

– Worthy (v.36) (strengthened)

And finally, note from 1 Thess. 5:6-9

Do not sleep – keep spiritually alert, not lulled into a sense of false security
Be self-controlled – controlled by faith and love
Minds protected by our hope of salvation, looking to the coming Day

Bible School, David Serle Blog, evening meetings