Signs of the Times
From the Pastor’s heart
1Ch_12:32And 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.
When we are facing what we are in these last days, we must come to the place of knowing what to do. All our experience, knowledge of the word and encounters with God, and the presence of the Holy Spirit in us must tell us what to do at a time such as this. Often time, even mature Christians do not know what to do. They look for leadership. Issachar the tribe of Israel seemed to have known what to do for an entire nation. Likewise, we too must know what to do, not only for ourselves but the nations of the world because of the Spirit of God in us.
The Jews asked Jesus for a sign and He said this; Mat 16:4 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. When no sign is given to a wicked and adulterous generation they are going to be fooled into thinking everything is okay when it is not. So, who sees the signs of the times? I believe it is the righteous who see the signs of the times because God said that there would be signs and wonders. Joe 2:30And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. This particular prophesy comes to pass in the book of Revelation Rev_6:12And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;
I believe that the Church is an Issachar. A peculiar people who are prophetic in nature and can discern the times within and without the Church. However, I would very much like to qualify the word Church to mean those who are born again of the Spirit of God and who walk in the ways of the Lord. Many call themselves churches but are in fact not churches at all. They are everything from cults to social clubs to practisers of false things, all in the guise of Christianity and pretending to love Jesus. Even homosexual churches exist who worship Jesus and then there are satanic churches and the like. So, in saying that the Church is an Issachar, I qualify the word ‘Church’ to mean, that which is sanctified by the blood of Jesus and filled with the Spirit of God and who are walking in the Spirit. The problem however that we face in defining the Church is, knowing that the Church is actually people who are born again. It is not four walls or denominations as we all should know. The fact remains therefore; we must discern amongst ourselves who is a true believer and who is not. Furthermore, we must discern who is telling the truth and who is not. So, in the light of someone sharing their views on the signs of the end times and suggesting what will come to pass; can we believe them? Can we trust them?
A recent viewing of a U Tube segment of a Pastor who said that there are many who talk about the end times but are false prophets. What he said revealed to me that he himself did not know what he was talking about because of what I had experienced through these so called false prophecies and prophets. I found them to be true in my case and they worked to my advantage as I applied the information they provided. The example in this case is about the blood moons and the Shemitah and Jubilee year. In both cases I found them to be extremely valuable prophecies and warnings that I took advantage off in my understanding and faith which resulted in tremendous benefits for me personally. Were the prophesies false or were they merely misunderstood by this preacher on U Tube?
What we have to understand in the last days is, the signs of the times cannot be read by everyone. Jesus said; “many will come in my name.” Others are reading the signs through situations and circumstances that they see happening while depending on natural senses and worldly experiences to get them through these days. Let us take for example, a person who is going through drugs and has serious problems in life. Can we discern their state of being by what we see or do we determine their state by what the Lord is showing us is happening to them? On the one hand, we know that their addiction is taking them down the wrong track and on the other hand, we know that the hope of their spiritual life is also being threatened and destroyed. However, Jesus said; in the last days many would come who are in various difficulties like this. When we see this happening, we have to understand that the signs of the times is staring us in the face. Apostle Paul wrote it this way; 2Ti 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2Ti 3:2For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 2Ti 3:3Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 2Ti 3:4Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 2Ti 3:5Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 2Ti 3:6For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, 2Ti 3:7Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. This list of things that Apostle Paul writes is but a few of the signs.
The world thinks nothing of it and does not clamp down on drugs and the problems associated with it because they are too greedy for money and this too is a sign of the times. There are innumerable signs of the times and they are all leading us to the word of God about what is coming. How are we preparing for it and what is it that we are doing to help as many as we can before the great and terrible day of the Lord is upon us?
My friends, do not be easily taken by the signs that you think you are reading in the world, in others and yourself. I have discovered that waiting on God and understanding His word through the Spirit far outweighs anything that my senses or experience will tell me about the times or people. I believe that the Church has to learn to discern through the Holy Spirit and not through its own ability. Many are talking about prophecy in these last days and many are right and many are wrong. Only the Holy Spirit will tell you what is right or wrong. When Noah warned the people they ignored him. Heb_11:7By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. It took a further 120 years for the flood to come from the time Noah was asked to build the ark. God told me some years ago to prepare the ark. I asked the Lord what the ark was. He said; prepare the ark of the heart of myself and others and prepare the Church which is the ark that will harbour the souls in the last days. Ever since that, I have been doing that and seeing incredible things. The signs of the times have led me to believe that the work I am undertaking is an end time work. I believe the Church does have the ability like Issachar to know what to do. The Church has to build the ark. It has to have a clean house and a prepared house to receive whom God will send. As soon as you see them coming in, you will know the times. All over the world, this phenomenon of the worst of the worst coming into the Church tells me two things; the religious zealots will be left behind because they do not discern the times and secondly the Church will arise in a revival like never before.
Do not be fooled by anything and everything. They are called ‘winds of doctrine’, because when the winds blow, they can be contrary winds as well. So, to knowing the times by the signs and by prophecies requires dependence on the Holy Spirit to illuminate the word. The writing is on the wall for the false Church because the true Church is emerging. The earth is recognising the sons and daughters of God and is glad for it. The true sons and daughters of God are arising and taking hold of their commission in life. They realise they have too, because they discern the times. The harvest fields are ready and they know that the labourers are few. They are ready to sacrifice it all for Jesus while others are not discerning the times and are building their kingdoms on earth and still walking about with their heads in the clouds. Others are like ostriches with their heads buried in the ground. The lines are not in the process of being drawn, they have already been drawn. Ministry in these last days is going to be so different that many will not be able to cope because they are going about life and ministry the old ways. Such people do not know how to let go.
Any sign that speaks of a coming move of God or about what is going on is discerned through the Holy Spirit. However, to really hear clearly and act upon what the Holy Spirit is saying will depend on how close you walk with Him. The signs all point to only one thing. That is; what the word of God says and has been saying all these years. When we know that, we cannot fail, we will not be carried away by every wind of doctrine, we will know what to do at any given moment and we will prepare our hearts for the soon return of our King.
I am really hoping and praying that we as a Church are going to position ourselves in these times by reading the signs correctly and not give into anything else. We must become one. That will be a sign to all who look on us.
Lots of love
Pastor Noble
28/02/2016