08202023 - Part 5 - 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 August 20, 2023 Set Your Watch! Part 4 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 12:1 New King James Version 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. I Chronicles 12: 23-48 1 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: 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 This morning, we’re resuming our series on SET YOUR WATCH which focuses on discerning the times we live in and understanding what the times are saying to all people, but especially the people of God. The central thought of the series 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; We too need an understanding of the times to know what we ought to be doing as God’s Children -- Jesus Followers. In framing this message series, I’ve titled it Set Your Watch! 2 Set Your Watch is strong warning and encouragement for Believers to pay attention to what God is saying to His people by observing with keen spiritual discernment the unfolding of events and the attitudes and mindsets that accompany the times. This message series is intended to awaken us to our times by causing us to do what I call “Set a Watch” or “Keep a Watch.” Jesus said in Matthew 25:13 . . . “Therefore, keep watch, for you know neither the day nor the hour.” “Keeping watch” means keeping faith with Christ in the events of daily life. It means keeping an eye, ear, and spiritual antennas tuned into what God is doing and saying in these times and using the Bible as your guide and compass. The hope of this lesson is to make every Believer a responsible watchman for his or her own soul by understanding the times and doing what the Bible says we ought to be doing. One thing is clear, our times are talking to us, or better said: God is speaking to us through our times. Did you know that everything that God has given significance or breath is speaking on His behalf? Consider Psalms 19: 1-4 3 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork. 2 Day unto day utters speech, And night unto night reveals knowledge. 3 There is no speech nor language Where their voice is not heard. 4 Their line has gone out through all the earth, And their words to the end of the world. Everything outside of God’s human mouthpieces – meaning prophets, preachers, pastors, evangelists, apostles, and Saints – is sending a clear message from God about the times we live in: The climate is speaking, Science and Nature are speaking; The atmosphere, the moon, stars, and sun are talking. Technology, Biology, Anthropology, Sexology, Gastroenterology, Theology, and on and on are sending a notice to man from God. The times are telling us what we ought to be doing. With that, let’s return to looking at a few more things our times are telling us. So far, we have learned two things that our times are telling us: The first is . . . 4 1. Be Watchful of Whose Report You Are Believing! With that, we learned that there are only two reports or messages given to man to believe: God’s report or Man’s report which is contaminated with Satan’s deceptions. 2. The SECOND thing Our Times are Telling Us Is. . Pay Attention to Things the Bible Says are Yet to Come! In particular, the Antichrist and his works. We learned here that although the antichrist is not yet here in person [not until after the Rapture], as Believers, our concern is with the spirit of the antichrist – which is the “Spirit of Evil” operating in the world through false teaching men and women. Now for the THIRD thing Our Times are Telling Us. The THIRD thing our Times are telling us is: • Life Now Lived Without Warnings! This observation seems kind of bizarre and nebulous. But it is powerfully informative for the Believer. What is this observation telling us? It’s telling us that those who are without God are at the mercy of the times – meaning they are victims of life’s circumstances and a fallen world’s circumstances. 5 We have reached a period where time is no longer on the side of man. It is against him. Where there used to be hints, warnings, and predictable signs of the times, I believe we have reached a point where the only warnings available to man must come straight from God – otherwise, people remain in darkness. Without God, people are at the mercy of whatever the times serve up. If there’s ever been a time to Set Your Watch – meaning having your antennas pointed toward heaven, now is that time. As the world grows smaller and smaller due to technological connectivity, modern media, and instant information to the minute -we are witnessing a daily deluge of catastrophic occurrences [in real time mind you] both in our backyards and on the other side of the world. And things keep happening without warning. Truth be told, our times are telling us “no longer can you rely on the things around you to tap you on the shoulder and say: “Warning – something is about to go down.” Everything that is happening in time is a manifestation of God’s warning systems, but only the discerning child of God will see it. What this means is that the occurrences, tragedies, and mishaps of our times are in place as a sign to the Believer that what God has spoken is true. 6 An earthquake is not just an earthquake when it comes to God. A pandemic is not just a pandemic when it comes to God. Global warming is not just another hot day when it comes to God. Rather His Word is a warning to His people and all who would hear and obey. Even with all of man’s warning systems, state of the art technology, and detection mechanisms, societies on all seven continents can’t predict or send notice fast enough to save lives – let alone a soul. What is the condition of the world today? I think it is best represented by the words of Zechariah 7:10-12 New King James Version 7:10 Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, The alien or the poor. Let none of you plan evil in his heart Against his brother.’ 11 “But they refused to heed, shrugged their shoulders, and stopped their ears so that they could not hear. 12 Yes, they made their hearts like flint, refusing to hear the law and the words which the Lord of hosts had sent by His Spirit through the former prophets. Thus great wrath came from the Lord of hosts. Listen to what the Scripture has to say about this: 7 Matthew 12 NLT 38 One day some teachers of religious law and Pharisees came to Jesus and said, “Teacher, we want you to show us a miraculous sign to prove your authority.” 39 But Jesus replied, “Only an evil, adulterous generation would demand a miraculous sign; but the only sign I will give them is the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 For as Jonah was in the belly of the great fish for three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights. 41 “The people of Nineveh will stand up against this generation on judgment day and condemn it, for they repented of their sins at the preaching of Jonah. Now someone greater than Jonah is here—but you refuse to repent. 42 The queen of Sheba will also stand up against this generation on judgment day and condemn it, for she came from a distant land to hear the wisdom of Solomon. Now someone greater than Solomon is here—but you refuse to listen. 1 Thessalonians 5:2-4 New King James Version 5:2 For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. 3 For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a 8 pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. 4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. Sudden Occurrences of Late: • Mass shootings – especially of school age children and church attendees. The United States has surpassed 400 mass shootings in 2023, setting the stage for a record-breaking year in gun violence without any significant federal firearm legislation on the horizon. The US had 647 mass shootings in 2022. • Catastrophic Occurrences – Floods, Earthquakes, Cyclones, Hurricanes, Tornadoes, Famines, Pestilences, Diseases. • Wars and Rumors of Wars – • Personal Life Situations – Marriages and Divorces; Lifestyle choices; Gender Reassignments – especially impacting children. What is the answer for chaotic times? Isaiah 30:20-22 New King James Version 30:20 And though the Lord gives you 9 The bread of adversity and the water of affliction, Yet your teachers will not be moved into a corner anymore, But your eyes shall see your teachers. 21 Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” Whenever you turn to the right hand Or whenever you turn to the left. Psalm 18:6 In my distress I called upon the Lord, And cried out to my God; He heard my voice from His temple, And my cry came before Him, even to His ears. Ezekiel 3:16-21 16 Now it came to pass at the end of seven days that the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 17 “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore hear a word from My mouth, and give them warning from Me: 18 When I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life, that same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand. 19 Yet, if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul. 10 20 “Again, when a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and I lay a stumbling block before him, he shall die; because you did not give him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he has done shall not be remembered; but his blood I will require at your hand. 21 Nevertheless if you warn the righteous man that the righteous should not sin, and he does not sin, he shall surely live because he took warning; also you will have delivered your soul.” Colossians 1:24-29 24 I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church, 25 of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God, 26 the [b]mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. 27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28 Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. 29 To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily. . 11