08/06/2023 - Part 2 - Set Your Watch

Grace Place Atlanta COGBF 4700 Mitchell Street Forest Park, GA 30297 Website: atlantacogbf.org Email: info@atlantacogbf.org Phone: (404) 241-6781 Wayne D. Mack, Pastor / Pastor Wayne D. Mack Sermon Notes July 30, and Aug 6, 2023 Set Your Watch! Part 1 & 2 1 Peter 4:7 - Serving for God’s Glory But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. 1 Chronicles 12 New King James Version I Chronicles 12: 23-48 12:1 Now these were the men who came to David at Ziklag while he was still a fugitive from Saul the son of Kish; and they were among the mighty men, helpers in the war, 2 armed with bows, using both the right hand and the left in hurling stones and shooting arrows with the bow. They were of Benjamin, Saul’s brethren. 12:23 Now these were the numbers of the divisions that were equipped for war, and came to David at Hebron to turn over the kingdom of Saul to him, according to the word of the Lord: 12:32 of the sons of Issachar who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, their chiefs were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their command; GM GP Today, I’m compelled to speak from a theme on “understanding the times”. The central thrust of the thought is taken from a verse of scripture found in 1 Chronicles 12:32 . . . 32 of the sons of Issachar who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, their chiefs were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their command; The title of today’s message is . . . Set Your Watch! What does Set a Watch mean . . .? It means to observe with continuous attention, especially to act as a watchman for your own protection. What does keeping watch mean biblically? Christ concludes a parable in Matthew 25:13 with the admonition: “Therefore, keep watch, for you know neither the day nor the hour”. “Keeping watch” means keeping faith with Christ in the little events of daily life; it means being where we are supposed to be, doing our duty by our family, personal interests, and our work. Keeping an eye, ear, and spiritual antennas tuned into what God is doing and saying in these times. Regardless of what the situation is, keep God in your watch. Listen to what Ecclesiastes 7:14 says . . . Enjoy prosperity while you can, but when hard times strike, realize that both come from God. Remember that nothing is certain in this life. The only thing that is certain is that God ever rules from His throne, He controls everything, and Jesus Christ still saves. Now, back to “understanding the times”. Again. . . . 1 Chronicles 12:32 . . . says . . . 32 of the sons of Issachar who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, their chiefs were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their command; The backstory of this verse has to do with a shifting of power when the kingship of Israel changed from Saul’s hand to David’s hand. It so happened that God had removed Saul from the throne and made David king as He had promised. The Book of First Chronicles is a picture of an army that was once loyal to King Saul, but now suddenly and providentially has become loyal to the new king – King David. Of the tens of thousands who turned from Saul to David, crossed over, one tribe, in particular, stood out in a unique way. Not because they had a gifted skill like the ability to shoot arrows with precision or sling rocks as left handers with amazing accuracy. No, the sons of Issachar had what every tribe needed: “An understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do”. As turbulent and twisted as our times are now, we need an Issachar-like voice to speak some understanding about our times. But who really cares? A Google search when asked “What kind of time are we living in now? The answer it gave is that we are 'Living in the Now' Time! And it defined such a time as . . . Essentially, 'living in the now' means: Ensuring that your awareness is completely centered on the here and now. You are not worrying about the future or thinking about the past. When you live in the now, you are living where life is happening. Nevertheless, 1 Chronicles 12:32 stood up in me as I began to consider where people are in this post pandemic era. I began to wonder how many people are yet on the ropes and still struggling to understand where their life is, where the world is going, and will things ever return to a normalcy they once knew? This morning I want to talk us through a few things regarding the times we are living through -- in hopes that we’ll find our anchor holding to the solid rock of Christ. Now, I want to share with you FIVE things Our Times are Telling Us. By the way, the Bible and its Scriptures rightly divided is the eqivalent of the voice of the sons of Issachar who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do. The Bible is the Book of books God has placed before us to tell us what time it is. So, First, what are the times telling us? First thing Our Times are Telling Us . . Now more than ever, the greatest imperative is to: Hear and Believe God’s Report! Believe the Word of God – the only truth that frees men and women from themselves – from the selfdeception Satan has infiltrated this world with. So, our times are first telling us to: Be Watchful of Whose Report You’re Believing! There is so much of false nothingness to place your confidence and belief in, but it’s all a scheme of Satan. His tactic is to confuse, convince, and deceive every man, woman, boy, and girl to believe in anything you want, just don’t believe in God to the saving of your soul through Jesus Christ. I think you’ll agree: Our times are crazy with the amount of news and information being reported today. And the news is coming at us faster than we can process it – faster and faster, more and more, minute by minute, and second by millisecond – nonstop, every day, 24/7. According to one recent article found on the Internet entitled: How Much Data Is Created Every Day in 2023, it was reported that we generate so much data every day that if it were written down in the form of books, and we could pile those books one on top of another, we’d have enough to build a bridge to the moon—and back. Regarding news, people still trust the media for their news – whether radio, TV, or newspaper. But God’s people are instructed and expected not to get their news from CNN, BBC, FOX, USA Today, or PBS – but rather to get their news from the Bible. Don’t get me wrong. We’re not expected to put our head in the sand or the clouds and be disconnected and naïve. What I mean is the Bible is all of world history, prophecy, and things past, present, and things yet to come. It is God’s script from the beginning of time to the end of time. We would do well to live out our beliefs predicated upon the Bible. Ecclesiastes 1:9 & 10 NLT reports that 9 History merely repeats itself. It has all been done before. Nothing under the sun is truly new [just the toys we are playing with are different]. 10 Sometimes people say, “Here is something new!” But actually, it is old; nothing is ever truly new. Ultimately, as Believers, we are commanded to hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches. We are told To Set a Rightful Watch upon the things God is reporting -- as opposed to ordering our lives strictly by what’s being reported by news agencies, Youtube, Twitter, Tabloids, or following the controlled news feeds of the Prince of this World – Satan. [A rightful watch has to do with accurately processing what is being reported on the surface and secularly against what the Bible means. For instance take Matthew 24:6 and Mark 13:7 which essentially gives the same warning . . . “And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.” – Wars and Rumors of Wars – Don’t follow man’s report, but God’s. Man, continuously reports that the world is a ticking time bomb that will ultimately be destroyed by nuclear bombs. Not so according to the Bible. A Rightful Watch is a watch that lines up with the Bible. We are not to follow the narrative of the world’s reporting system. But to hold to God’s unchanging hand. Satan is the FOX of news and lies. He was a Deceiver from the beginning and if this fallen world is in his hand as allowed by God for a season – then the Saints of God need to be all the more watchful and diligent to hear God’s voice through Scripture. Even though it’s wise to listen to the news and to pay attention to what’s being reported, as Children of God’s Kingdom, (not Satan’s kingdom) - we are told and admonished to BELIEVE God’s Report above all reports. The Prophet Isaiah in Isaiah 53:1 asks a question: Who has believed our report? Who has believed God’s message? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? That is, who has embraced God’s victorious power? Is it God’s report that you’re following with discernment or are you following and reacting to what you’re hearing outside of Scripture. Don’t fret! Things may look grim, but the Word of God establishes that God is in control. Listen to what Jesus said in John 12: 35-41 35 Then Jesus said to them, “A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going. 36 While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” These things Jesus spoke, and departed, and was hidden from them. 37 But although He had done so many signs before them, they did not believe in Him, 38 that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke: “Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” 39 Therefore they could not believe, because Isaiah said again: 40 “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, Lest they should see with their eyes, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them.” 41 These things Isaiah said when he saw His glory and spoke of Him. 42 Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God. Hard to let go. To turn off what’s being reported daily in our world. But you must, otherwise, you will fall prey to the devil’s report. Whose report are you believing? Turn down World News Tonight, and turn up the God News of Jesus Christ every day. Our times are telling us to Believe God’s Report. Believe God’s Message!