09.01.2021 | WHAT TIME IS IT?
WHAT TIME IS IT?
1. Does anybody really know what time it is?
Two Greek words for time:
Chronos – Chronological time; calendar time; the time on our watch or phone
Kairos – An opportune time; an appointed time; God’s time of visitation
Luke 19:44b – “You did not know the time of your visitation.”
1 Chronicles 12:32a – “Of the Sons of Issachar who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do.”
We want understanding of the times, and we want to know, as believers, what we ought to do.
2. What time is it prophetically?
1 John 2:18a – “Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come.”
Acts 2:17a – “And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, that I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh.”
“The Last Days refer to the era of the Church from Pentecost to the return of Christ. They are an overlap of this age and the age to come.” – Jack Hayford
Many believe there will be a Great Outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the earth that will lead to a Great Ingathering of the Harvest, and that will usher in the Return of the Lord.
Joel 2:23 – “Be glad then, you children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God; for He has given you the former rain faithfully, and He will cause the rain to come down for you – the former rain and the latter rain in the first month.”
Joel 2:24 – “The threshing floors shall be full of wheat, and the vats shall overflow with new wine and oil.”
3. What are some of the signs that we are living in the Last Days?
A. The Great Harvest of Lost Souls
More Muslims have come to Christ in the last years than at any other point in history.
Romans 10:13 – “For whoever calls on the Name of the Lord shall be saved.”
B. The Re-Birth of The Nation of Israel
Isaiah 66:8a – “Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? Shall the earth be made to give birth in one day? Or shall a nation be born at once?”
The nation of Israel was reborn on May 14, 1948.
“God put you in your mother’s womb so that you would be the instrument to bring about the rebirth of Israel after 2,000 years.” – Chief Rabbi to President Truman
C. The Return of Jewish People to The Land of Israel
Ezekiel 36:24 – “For I will take you from among the nations, gather you out of all countries, and bring you into your own land.”
D. The Increase in Natural Disasters and Conflict Between Nations
Billy Graham Training spoke of the increase in natural disasters.
Matthew 24:7 – “For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places.”
Matthew 24:8 – “All these are the beginning of sorrows.”
E. The Increase in Persecution
Matthew 24:9 – “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My Name’s sake.”
“When you are a city employee, and your thoughts, beliefs, and opinions are different than the city’s, you are to check them at the door.” – Atlanta City Council to Fire Chief Cochran
F. The Increase in Lawlessness and Wickedness
Matthew 24:12 – “And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.”
2 Timothy 3:1-5a – “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power.”
G. The Increase in Control and Manipulation and The Decrease of Freedom
John 8:36 – “Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.”
4. What time is it for the Body of Christ?
A. It is Time to Pray
Matthew 9:37-38 – “Then He said to his disciples, ‘The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore, pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.’”
B. It is Time to Share The Gospel
2 Corinthians 5:20a – “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us.”
Romans 15:19 – “In mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God, so that from Jerusalem and round about to Illyricum I have fully preached the Gospel of Christ.”
C. It is Time to Fulfill The Great Commission
Matthew 24:14 – “And this Gospel of the Kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to the nations, and then the end will come.”
D. It is Time to Live Lives of Holiness
2 Peter 3:11 – “Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness.”
5. What time is it for unbelievers?
A. It is Time to Seek The Lord!
Isaiah 55:6-7 – “Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.”