{"id":2503,"date":"2022-09-01T21:19:58","date_gmt":"2022-09-01T20:19:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/saltshakers.com\/?p=2503"},"modified":"2022-09-08T20:59:46","modified_gmt":"2022-09-08T19:59:46","slug":"foundations-17-follow-up-bible-school-discerning-the-times","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/saltshakers.church\/?p=2503","title":{"rendered":"Foundations 17 Follow-up Bible School 4 Discerning the times"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2>Not the \u2018what\u2019 of the signs, but the \u2018how\u2019 and the \u2018why\u2019<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This week, we want to look at one specific aspect of discernment &#8211; understanding the times that we are living in. Rather than studying the actual signs of the times (there are many other resources for that &#8211; 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!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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&#8217; disciples! Although, it does become more important as we approach the end-times, which many believe that we are living in now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2>Discerning the times<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3>1.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Kairos (season) or chronos (period of time)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Kairos is use of a season or an epoch, whereas chronos is use for a period of calendar time or an interval.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Didn\u2019t need to explain for they knew! Knew what? That they were \u2018of the day\u2019 and so were watching, and not \u2018of the night\u2019 so that &#8216;that Day would not come on them like a thief&#8217; &#8211; wouldn&#8217;t it be wonderful to know what they knew!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Macro \u2013 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)<\/li><li>Micro \u2013 Knowing the season<ul><li>Men of Issachar \u201chaving wisdom (\u2018a mental putting together\u2019) with regard to the times (kairos), knowing what Israel should do\u201d 1 Chron. 12:32<\/li><\/ul><ul><li>Fighting yesterday\u2019s battles<br>Finding the right hills to die on?<\/li><\/ul><ul><li>Fighting the wrong battles<br>where is the battleground? The world, the flesh and the devil \u2013 has it ever moved?<br>core or peripheral issues? Not dragged by our emotions (but not unfeeling either!)<\/li><\/ul><ul><li>One of the enemy\u2019s tactics is distractions, pulling us onto his agenda<\/li><\/ul><\/li><li>Preach Christ and Him crucified, raised, ascended and made Lord and Christ \u2013 in season and out of season (opportune, unfavourable \u2013 different words)<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3>2.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; How do we discern the times?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Know the Word, not about the Word, or charts or people\u2019s ideas!<br>Discerning the times \u2013 not predicting them \u2013 but seeing where the trends are heading and warning people! We need to explain the culture of society <strong>to<\/strong> our society \u2013 come back to this<\/li><li>Understand the culture 1 Cor. 9:19-22<br>Alexander MacLaren: \u201cThe 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\u2026 Mr. Facing-both-ways is not a powerful evangelist.\u201d<\/li><li>But he goes on to warn of the danger of not finding those points of contact:<\/li><li>\u201cWe 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. \u201c<br>(Expositions of Holy Scripture 1904-1910)<\/li><li>How Paul presented the gospel differed (Acts 17 Mars Hill, then to Corinth Acts 18) but he always presented Christ \u2013 crucified, risen, ascended and Lord and Saviour<\/li><li>Know your enemy<br>We mustn\u2019t be driven by his agenda. Understand the moral forces behind what you see happening. Joe Boot, Wilberforce Academy, books like \u201cThe Evolution of the West\u201d by Christian Nick Spencer, \u201cThe Strange Death of Europe\u201d and \u201cThe Madness of Crowds\u201d by non-Christian Douglas Murray; Jordan Peterson; but where are the voices of the mainstream churches? Or our voices, for that matter!<\/li><li>Be watchful, alert<br>Armies don\u2019t win by sleeping!<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3>3.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Why should we be alert?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Necessity of watching \u2013 Jesus said so! The New Testament repeats it about 30 times<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>&#8211; gregoreuo G1127 &#8211; from G1453 egeiro; to <em>keep awake<\/em>, that is, watch (literally or figuratively): &#8211; be vigilant, wake, (be) watch (-ful).<\/li><li>&#8211; egeir\u014d G1453- incorporates the idea of collecting one\u2019s faculties<\/li><li>&#8211; agrupneo G69 \u2013 to keep awake, sleeplessness<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Not <strong>stay<\/strong> awake, which may be involuntary; this is deliberate \u2013 <strong>keep<\/strong> awake!<\/li><li>Not necessarily watching for something or someone, but being alert, aware of what\u2019s going on, expecting the unexpected<\/li><li>Note context of watching \u2013 gregoreuo (g) and agrupneo (a) used interchangeably<ul><li>That we enter not into temptation (g) Mark 14:37,38 \u2013 experiencing adversity to put your faith to the proof<\/li><\/ul><ul><li>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<\/li><\/ul><ul><li>Continuing in prayer (g) Col. 4:2; (a) Eph. 6:18<\/li><\/ul><ul><li>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<\/li><\/ul><ul><li>Sanctification in the light of the Lord\u2019s return (g) Rev. 16:15;<\/li><li>How we live our lives (egeir\u014d) Rom. 13:11; Eph. 5:14 &#8211; observing what is going on in our own lives, and around us in society, and &#8216;collecting our faculties&#8217; to use our knowledge of the Lord and of His Word to interpret things<\/li><\/ul><\/li><li>Jesus&#8217; rebuked the Jews of His day for their lack of understanding<br>Matt. 16:2-3 signs of the times (Jesus did all the signs of the Messiah and publicly fulfilled prophecies like Zech.9:9);<br>Luke 19:44 time of your visitation (Dan. 9:24-27; book of Enoch gave 70 generations from Enoch to Messiah \u2013 Luke enumerates them!)<\/li><li>What &#8216;watching&#8217; means<ul><li>Like men that wait Luke 12:35-40<\/li><\/ul><ul><li>Purity of life Rev.3:4; Titus 2:11-13; 2 Pet. 3:11,14<\/li><\/ul><ul><li>Eager anticipation 2 Tim. 4:8; Heb. 9:28; 1 Thess. 1:10; 2 Pet. 3:12<\/li><\/ul><ul><li>Strengthen the things that remainRemember-Hold fast-Repent Rev. 3:2-3<\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>So we are not looking for signs, but for the Saviour (Phil. 3:20) even though we don\u2019t know when He\u2019s coming (Luke 12:37) and readiness is not having it all planned out but living a holy life. (Planning committee or welcome committee?)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Lessons from Rev. 3: 1-6 Be watchful<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Strengthen the things that remain \u2013 good things which have been weakened by their incomplete works, and are about to die (a word for today!?!) \u2013we follow One who \u201cfinished the work\u201d of salvation but left good works prepared beforehand that we should walk in them Eph. 2:10. \u201cI have fought the good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith\u201d 2 Tim. 4:7<\/li><li>Remember \u2013 what you have received and heard \u2013 the sound doctrine handed down from the Lord Jesus and the Apostles in Scripture<\/li><li>Hold fast \u2013 don\u2019t let it slip or be compromised<\/li><li>Repent \u2013 of failures and incomplete works, of things done in the flesh<\/li><li>Walk in purity&nbsp; &#8211; clothed in Jesus\u2019 righteousness (not self-righteousness) Zech. 3:3-4<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Lessons from Luke 21:28-36 general warnings \u2013 be:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; \u2013 Aware&nbsp; (v.29-31)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; \u2013 Assured (v.32-33)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; \u2013 Watching (v.34-35) in every season (v. 36) Luke 12:35-40; Luke 19:13 Occupy til I come (Be about My business)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; \u2013 Worthy (v.36) (strengthened)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And finally, note from 1 Thess. 5:6-9<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Do not sleep \u2013 keep spiritually alert, not lulled into a sense of false security<\/li><li>Be self-controlled \u2013 controlled by faith and love<\/li><li>Minds protected by our hope of salvation, looking to the coming Day<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Not the \u2018what\u2019 of the signs, but the \u2018how\u2019 and the \u2018why\u2019 This week, we want to look at one specific aspect of discernment &#8211; [&#8230;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":20,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[13,21,5],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v15.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Foundations 17 Follow-up Bible School 4 Discerning the times - SALTSHAKERS creativity in action<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/saltshakers.church\/?p=2503\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Foundations 17 Follow-up Bible School 4 Discerning the times - SALTSHAKERS creativity in action\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Not the \u2018what\u2019 of the signs, but the \u2018how\u2019 and the \u2018why\u2019 This week, we want to look at one specific aspect of discernment &#8211; [...]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/saltshakers.church\/?p=2503\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"SALTSHAKERS creativity in action\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/saltshakerscommunity\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2022-09-01T20:19:58+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2022-09-08T19:59:46+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@yeshuaexplored\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@yeshuaexplored\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Estimated reading time\">\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"6 minutes\">\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/saltshakers.church\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/saltshakers.church\/\",\"name\":\"SALTSHAKERS creativity in action\",\"description\":\"A web family and a place for those looking for a clear Biblical voice in a confused conflicted world\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":\"https:\/\/saltshakers.church\/?s={search_term_string}\",\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/saltshakers.church\/?p=2503#webpage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/saltshakers.church\/?p=2503\",\"name\":\"Foundations 17 Follow-up Bible School 4 Discerning the times - SALTSHAKERS creativity in action\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/saltshakers.church\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2022-09-01T20:19:58+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2022-09-08T19:59:46+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/saltshakers.church\/#\/schema\/person\/2d3fc85b90210db6256f838e140edc8a\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/saltshakers.church\/?p=2503\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/saltshakers.church\/#\/schema\/person\/2d3fc85b90210db6256f838e140edc8a\",\"name\":\"David Serle\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/saltshakers.church\/#personlogo\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"url\":\"http:\/\/0.gravatar.com\/avatar\/fb4ecd73a61d1a38b6a874e03a8be997?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"David Serle\"}}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/saltshakers.church\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2503"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/saltshakers.church\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/saltshakers.church\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/saltshakers.church\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/20"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/saltshakers.church\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2503"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"http:\/\/saltshakers.church\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2503\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2536,"href":"http:\/\/saltshakers.church\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2503\/revisions\/2536"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/saltshakers.church\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2503"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/saltshakers.church\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2503"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/saltshakers.church\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2503"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}