Victory Life KY

Discerning The Times III

Episode Summary

If Jesus expected that group to discern the time, those of us born of His Spirit should absolutely discern the times we’re in today.

Episode Notes

• Matthew 16:3 NKJV-  Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times.

• If Jesus expected that group to discern the time, those of us born of His Spirit should absolutely discern the times we’re in today. 

• And without a doubt, the “anti-christ” is discerning his time. Much of what we see happening around the world is the result of his aggressive assault. 

• This is why believers have to remember, the enemy’s primary weapon of choice has always been deception and fear. But God hasn’t given us a spirit of fear. Therefore give no place to the devil.

• Listen to the prophecy of King David, “Trust in the Lord, commit your way to Him. He will bring forth your righteousness like the new day sun.
• Don’t fret because of evildoers, they will soon be cut down like grass. Cease from anger and forsake wrath, for in just a little while the wicked will be no more. For the Almighty upholds the righteous!”

• As we dive into our subject, let these words from Jesus settle into your thinking, “Blessed is the servant the master finds watching when he returns.”

• Without a doubt the Lord expects us to be able to discern the times! We’ve gotta start thinking big picture. We have to realize that the stage is being set for the anti-christ. 

• Another one of satan’s key targets in these last days is the justice system. 

• And as difficult as it may be, I don’t think its in our nature as people of God to turn a blind eye to injustice as long as it doesn’t effect me personally. 
• “The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men too nothing.” Edmund Burke 

• He is making a major push to divide the world, but we’re not ignorant of his tactics. This is why I’m repeatedly telling you that you can’t rely on the media, they will never tell you the truth because satan owns them. Another resource, (icandecide.org)

• But for those of us who have God’s Spirit living in us, according to Jesus, He will reveal all things to us. He is our Counselor, Advocate, Comforter, Anointer. This means we should be able to discern the difference between the truth and lies.

• Proverbs 27 tells us that a prudent man foresees the evil and takes action. Why do you think I keep bringing up things going on around the world? Example: (stock up a little)

• Here’s something to keep in mind, remember our nation is God’s major source of the gospel going around the world. And make no mistake, the world is watching and waiting to see what we do.

• Let’s review just a bit, as we said last week, the platform the anti-christ will take the stage with is 100% operational right now.

• And it will be implemented through the one world government system spoken of by Daniel. That is absolutely being pushed around the world right now.

• For example, this global push for mandatory vaccines, on an experimental drug. And especially a vaccine passport, which by the way is already designed with a social credit feature in it.

• Think about it, as of last week less than half the population has said yes because they told you it’ll keep you safe. The rest of the world is saying no. Wonder why…

• Mandating an experimental drug is unacceptable. Don’t quit your job. You seriously think these major companies are actually going to let over half their work force just go.

• Let me give you some food for thought, here’s a few companies not mandating the shot: the White House, CDC, FDA, WHO, Pfizer, J&J, Moderna.

• Remember, Proverbs tells us a prudent man foresees evil. And what we see happening is a glimpse into exactly how the anti-christ sets up his demonic government.

• Revelation 13:16-17,NKJV- He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. 

• This one world government system he will use is the revised Roman Empire (feet of iron & clay) that is revealed through Daniel in the vision Nebuchadnezzar had. We know it today as the European Union.

• And as we get into this, don’t get focused on times or dates, just be watching and ready.

• Remember what Jesus told us, “Blessed is the servant the master finds watching when he returns.”

• Daniel 2, There is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days. Your dream, and the visions of your head upon your bed, were these.

• Daniel 2,
• Head of Gold — Babylon
• Chest and arms — Persia
• Belly and thighs — Greece
• Legs of iron — Roman Empire 
• Feet of iron and clay — revised Roman Empire \ European Union 

• Daniel 2:44-45,NLT-  During the reigns of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed or conquered. It will crush all these kingdoms into nothingness, and it will stand forever. 
• That is the meaning of the rock cut from the mountain, though not by human hands, that crushed to pieces the statue of iron, bronze, clay, silver, and gold. The great God was showing the king what will happen in the future. The dream is true, and its meaning is certain.

• And just like the metals degraded in Nebuchadnezzar‘s dream, so will the world which we live in today. To the degree that it’s one world, militarized system becomes its only form of government. 

• Here’s what the church has to be more aware of in the days we’re in. 

• We’ve got to discern our season. And the first thing we’ve got to get settled is that we, the church are the restrainer stopping the kingdom of darkness from just having its way. Jesus said, “I give you the keys to the Kingdom.”

• Seriously, during Jesus’ first coming, there came a point where His disciples had to make some hard decisions concerning their faith, their lives.

• Remember, He’s returning for a glorious church. And as the world around us grows darker, according to Proverbs, The way of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, which shines ever brighter until the full light of day.

• In Luke 12 Jesus is once again talking to His disciples about occupying and this is why He says, Blessed in the servant that the master finds watching. In v.43, He says, “Blessed is the servant that’s busy about the master’s work when he returns.”

• Then He said to the multitudes in v.56, “You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the weather signs of the earth and sky, but you don’t know how to interpret the signs of the times.”

• Just like Jesus expected the people of that time to be able to recognize His first time coming, He absolutely expects the people of this time to be able to recognize the time of His coming.

• Matthew 24, “Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branches have already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near.”

• So as we approach the age of the church coming to its end, this is our wake up call! Lets make sure we’re about the masters work. Because everyone of us that have accepted Christ will come before the judgement seat of Christ.

• 1 Corinthians 3:11-15,NKJV- For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 
• Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 
• each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. 
• If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 
• If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.”

• I believe Moody was right, everything we do this side of Heaven is simply preparing us for what we’ll be there.

• God gives us a simple revelation that will make understanding events of the Bible much easier to interpret.

• 1 Corinthians 10:32,NKJV- “Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God,”

• Here’s the thing, having this simple understanding concerning any truth from the scriptures is a key component of clarity; who’s talking, who they’re talking to, and what they’re talking about.

• So with this in mind, there are glimpses of Jesus’ return throughout the scriptures, but the major players are, Daniel, Revelation, Jesus In Matthew 24, and the Apostle Paul.

• Even though we are able to get a glimpse of what’s next on God’s calendar, we stay about the masters work until!! Maybe even get a little more dialed in because we recognize our time is short.

• That being said, the next event the church should be ready for is our departure. The Lord gave Paul this revelation in his letter the church of Thessalonica. 

• Keep in mind that after Jesus’ resurrection He appeared, disappeared, and reappeared many times over His last 40 days on the planet. To the degree that those closest to Him got used to it.

• Acts 1:11,NKJV- “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”

• This would be Jesus’ last disappearance for a while, but there were many that were expecting the same thing they had seen repeatedly over the last month.

• But days turned into weeks, weeks into months, months into years, and no sign of Jesus. And as saints begin to pass away and the Lord still hasn’t returned, they began to entertain different theories.

• Keep in mind they didn’t have any kind of reference, not to mention this new revelation of the resurrection from the dead is just now being taught.

• So Jesus calls Paul to Heaven and teaches him.

• They hadn’t heard Paul’s revelation yet, so the Holy Spirit is going to use this churches concern about saints that have already passed on to the other side, as well as for the saints that will be on the planet at the time of this special event.

• Paul actually gave the Corinthian church just a little glimpse.

• 1 Corinthians 15:51-52,NLT-   “But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed! It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed.”

• 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18,NLT- “And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. 
• 14, For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died. 
• 15, We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died. 
• 16, For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves. 
• 17, Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. 
• 18, So encourage each other with these words.”