God's Bold Followers

Intro: I once heard if you can hold a newspaper in one hand, and the Bible in the other you will have a pretty good chance of “discerning the times.”

— David Jeremiah "This is a time when all of God's people need to keep their eyes and their Bibles wide open. We must ask God for discernment as never before." The men mentioned in 1 Chronicles 12 were part of the gathering that assembled to make David king of Israel. They were assigned a variety of callings even the Isscharites the duty of “discerning the times” . Their mission was to be able to observe, listen, and to know what was happening near and around them ultimately. These descendants of Issachar were bold men…brave men…uncompromising men…unwavering men, unfaltering, unshakable.

The people of Issachar had some among them who understood clearly that God’s time had come for His purposes to be put into effect.

As I think of these Warriors, I remembered when I was a young man I relied on the spiritual direction of spiritual men, role model of others who counseled me in the directions I should take, and the things I should do in my life. They were the ‘Issachar men’ in my life. Through their counsel, I was able to avoid so many of the pitfalls ( not all of them)but some that require so great a price in the lives of our youth of today.

Many today are part of a new generation of people who have broken all contact with our spiritual heritage molded instead by the entertainment media’s influence. Charles Swindoll “The spirits of our young are wallowing in the muck and mire of profanity, adultery, violence and victimization.”

1 We have watched in horror as movies went from no cursing, to bleeping out cursing, to promoting vile profanity.

2 We have watched in horror as dancing went from the Twist to the Bump, to the Grind, to anything goes.

3 We have watched in horror as adult content went from illegal, to age-appropriate, to free-web access.

4 We have watched in horror as dating couples went from kissing to shacking up, to multiple relationships, We have seen the results of contextualization of God’s Word, The battle for the mind of our youth, The Critique of our Historic Figures taking out of context.

John Wesley

“I am not afraid that the people called Methodists should ever cease to exist either in Europe or America. But I am afraid lest they should only exist as a dead sect, having the form of religion without the power. And this undoubtedly will be the case unless they hold fast both the doctrine, spirit, and discipline with which they first set out.” ~

But all is not lost. There still is a remnant, I read this quote “The church is God's remnant in a country, able to change the life of the nation”

1 God is calling for the Issachar of His church to stand up and be counted. The church is calling for Bold Leaders who will direct God’s people as leaders of His Kingdom.

2 God is calling for Believers who will minister powerfully with the intensity of God’s spirit and enthusiasm generated by the excellence of their spiritual training.

3 God is calling for Followers who will be spiritual Elders, who will discern the times and give right counsel to those who seek it.

Bob Bennett “Book of Virtues” Our loyalties are important signs of the kinds of persons we have chosen to become. They mark a kind of fidelity or steadfastness in our attachments to persons, groups, institutions, or ideals with which we have deliberately decided to associate ourselves.”

It is these that have fought the good fight, as Paul says.

It is these who have been inspired by God and are ready to inspire others.

It is these who have been taught in the temple, and are ready to teach others.

It is these who have been blessed by God with the gift to discern the times and to help others.

Chuck Swindoll “ God is calling His Issachar Army to step up and be counted:He is calling for an army that is motivated by His love,He is calling for an army Anointed by His Spirit,He is calling for an army Sanctified by His Blood,And He is calling for an army guided by His grace.”

Loyd Ogilvie who served as Chaplain of the Senate from 1995-2003 was commenting on the story of Acts 5 a story of treachery, deceit, deception, duplicity, and ultimately judgment. Loyd writes “Despite all this The Lord’s movement was pressing on! There was a sick and suffering world that needed the gospel from a church free of any holdouts mis representation.”