The Importance of Discerning Times and Seasons

Jesus said to the multitudes concerning the discernment of time:

"Whenever you see a cloud rising out to the west, immediately you say, 'A shower is coming'; and so it is. And when you see the south wind blow, you say, 'There will be hot weather'; and there is. Hypocrites! You can discern the face of the sky and of the earth, but how is it you do not discern this time" (Luke 12:54,55,56, NKJV, emphasis added)?

In the context, "this time" mean the time when the Messiah should appear. Jesus said, God's people who fail to discern the time of such an important event are hypocrites. In fact, Jesus wept over Jerusalem because they "did not know the time of your (God's people's) visitation" (Luke 19:44)!

To discern the times is an improtant command of Christ. It is the spiritual responsibilty for children of God to discern the times.

Times and Seasons

Solomon "the preacher" listed 14 pairs of opposites in the book of Ecclesiastes:

"To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven:

A time to be born, and a time to die;
A time to plant, and a time to pluck what is planted;
A time to kill , and a time to heal;
A time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh;
A time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones;
A time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to gain, and a time to lose;
A time to keep, and a time to throw away;
A time to tear, and a time to sew;
A time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
A time to love, and a time to hate;
A time of war, and a time of peace.

It is not always the right time to do any of those 14 things listed above. It is not always right to speak, it is not always right to build up and not always right to plant. I believe to a very large extent success in life depends on doing the right thing at the right time. But, the question is how are we, as Christians going to know when it is the right time to do a certain thing? Or, how are we to know what to do at a certain time? I believe the answers to these questions largely determine whether we are going to succeed or fail in life. Similarly, the answers also determine whether the Church, as the body of Christ is walking in the will of God, or out of the will of God.

The Mystery of Times and Seasons

I believe He who holds the key to the mystery of times and seasons is the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit shows the individual Christians and the Local Church what to do at what time. There is nothing we can do effectively for God without the Holy Spirit. There is no system or any set of rules that will work to please God without to Holy Spirit. The tragedy is, without the Holy Spirit the Local Church is likely to do what seems right to the leadership.

A common practice in the contemporary Church is that, when the leadership has discovered a "success formula" they will keep on following this formula. Other Local Churches are likely to follow the same "success formula" of another Church. As I said in my previous message every Church congregation needs ongoing visions and "fresh olive oil". What worked perfectly well 20 years ago, may not be workable now. Also, what works well in one Church congregation may not works the same ways with another congregation!

I believe in discipleship and the making of disciples because it is a scriptural principle. But, if the Church makes it a system or a set of rules suggested by men, it will not work better than any other religious system or set of rules which has gone before. You will find that different men suggest different sets of rules in discipleship. It will not accomplish the purpose or will of God without the soveraign direction of the Holy Spirit. The biggest mistake of the Local Church is, trying to make it through without the Holy Spirit. God forgives us but He will never proper us.

The Holy Spirit is the administrator of the entire wealth of God's Kingdom. He is the steward and administrator of our inheritance. He imparts divine wisdom, knowledge and understanding to any Christian who has the ears to hear.

Daniel said, "Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, for wisdom and might are His. And He changes the times and seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding" (Daniel 2:20,21, NKJV, emphasis added).

In other words, God is the source of all wisdom and knowledge and He gives wisdom and knowledge to those who have understanding so as to enable them to discern the right time and season to do the will of God.

Consequences of failing to discern Times and Seasons

After the Babylonian exile, it was time to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. God spoke through Haggai, the prophet to Zerubbabel, the governor and Joshua the high priest saying:

"The people says, 'The time has not come, the time that the Lord's house should be built'" (Haggai 1:2).

But God said it was the right time to rebuild the temple and it was not right for the people to dwell in these own houses when the temple was in ruins (Verses 3 and 4).

The Lord said, because the people refused to discern the time to rebuild the temple the following things happened:

"You have sown much, and bring in little; you eat, but do not have enough; you drink, but you are not filled with drink; you clothe yourselves, but no one is warm; and he who earns wages, earns wages to to put ino a bag with holes" (Verse 6).

"You looked for much, but indeed it came to little; and when you brought it home, I blew it away. The heavens above you withhold the dew, and the earth withholds its fruit" (Verses 9 and 10).

To me, it sounds like a "financial curse" upon God's people. The rest of the Book of Haggai says that, the people received the message from Haggai. They changed their way and began to prosper. The people responded to the words of the Lord's prophet. That changed the destiny of God's people.

"Hear me, O Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem: Believe in the Lord your God, and you shall be established; believe His prophets, and you shall prosper" (2 Chron. 20:20, NKJV, emphasis added).

I believe there is a parallel truth applicable to the New Testament Church. In other words, the Lord is also speaking the same thing to His Church if Christians fail to discern times and seasons. God is trying to get a message to the Church. If the Church of Jesus Christ fails to receive God's message, we must be ready to face the same consequences!

An important thing to note is that God did not speak to the people directly. He spoke through the Prophet (Haggai), to the Governor or king (Zerubbabel) and to the Priest (Joshua).

In my opinion, the Local Church needs all these three ministries - prophet, king and priest to discern times and seasons, in order to do the right things at the right time and to walk in the perfect will of God. These three ministries are also needed to restore or rebuild every Local Church.

It is interesting to note that the Lord has also given these three ministries to one person in every Christian home - the father! Every God-fearing father is responsible and accountable to God to discern times and seasons in order to ensure his family does the right thing at the right time.

I believe God reveals an important spiritual principle here - Wherever God builds, He calls for all three ministries; Priestly, Prophetic and kingly (government).