IT'S ABOUT TIME

And of the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do; the heads of them were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their commandment.

1 Samuel 15:35 AV

And Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death: nevertheless Samuel mourned for Saul: and the LORD repented that he had made Saul king over Israel.

1 Sam 15:34-

1 Sam 16:1-2

INTRO

1 Samuel 16:1 NKJV

Now the Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go; I am sending you to Jesse the Bethlehemite. For I have provided Myself a king among his sons.”

A. It was a time of Upheaval and Change for Israel

1 Chron

Saul had committed suicide in battle (10:4-6)

Heaven had orchestrated.

David had been anointed king (11:4-6)

1 Samuel 9:1–2 NKJV

There was a man of Benjamin whose name was Kish the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bechorath, the son of Aphiah, a Benjamite, a mighty man of power. And he had a choice and handsome son whose name was Saul. There was not a more handsome person than he among the children of Israel. From his shoulders upward he was taller than any of the people.

B. Who Knew What to Do at That Difficult Time?

Samuel....

The valuable children of Issachar knew what to do

They had an understanding of the times

C. What Are We to Do in These Stressful Times?

BODY

A. We Are to Read the Signs of the Times

Matthew 16:1–4 AV

The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven. He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red. And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times? A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed.

The Pharisees couldn’t read the signs of the times

a. Jesus said that they were but weather prophets

b. They were looking for some miraculous sign

c. They overlooked the obvious: Christ was there

2. Beware of those who claim spectacular knowledge

a. When Christ will return

b. The identity of the Antichrist

3. Look for signs already revealed in the Bible

a. Moral decline as in the days of Noah

Luke 17:27 AV

They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.

b. Violent eruptions in nature

Luke

Luke 21:25 AV

And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;

c. International signs relating to the nation of Israel

Luke 21:29 AV

And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees;

4. Understanding these signs should help us win people to Christ

B. We Are to Recognize Special Times

Luke 19:44 AV

And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.

1. Jesus wept over the tough times coming to Jerusalem

a. The city would be surrounded by enemies

b. Desolation and destruction were ahead

2. What were the reasons for His tears?

a. Jerusalem had rejected Him in spite of having been given great light

b. They had failed to recognize this special time (Their day)

3. Is this a special time in your life?

a. Is God making you aware of your sins?

b. Don’t grieve the Lord by not recognizing your opportunity to

C. We Are to Redeem These Sinful Times

Ephesians 5:16 AV

Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

Seizing opportunities to witness

a. Making soul winning our priority

b. Seeing people as God sees them

2. Seeing iniquity abound in the last days

Matthew 24:12 AV

And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

3. Being lights in a dark world

Philippians 2:15 AV

That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

CONCLUSION

A. It’s Time to Wake Up

Romans 13:11 AV

And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.