Message summary: There is a pandemic of deception all around the world, afflicting many. Untold numbers fall ill from this deception which is being packaged and marketed as 100% pure truth. Today we must seek the Lord to help us understand the present time and show us how to remain faithful and fruitful, as we prayerfully represent His kingdom here on earth.

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"Men of Issachar, who understood the times and knew what Israel should do" (1 Chronicles 12:32). "And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light" (Romans 13:11-12).

Have you ever counted the number of time devices you have in your house? Just consider your kitchen: we have one on our coffeemaker, oven, microwave, and a mounted radio/cd player. We have clocks on our mobile phones, tablets, computers, DVD players; we have them in every bedroom; and of course our  watches. I can even verbally ask, "Alexa, what time is it" and get my answer.

But for today's message we consider the times in light of the time period in which we currently live. To "understand the present time" is not merely knowing what time it is but understanding the significance on God's time table. This is particularly important for those in leadership who have a responsibility for others whether that be a parent, pastor, business leader, government official, authority figure or otherwise.

I sense in my spirit and in my discernment of the times that we are at a significant threshold, a tipping point as some would say. I want God to give me wisdom to understand the present time, and know how to respond properly, boldly and confidently as He more clearly reveals the bigger and more important picture.

Understanding the present time requires:

We have a model to follow in the little-known "men of Issachar". Our only insight into these otherwise unknown men is a rather obscure passage from I Chronicles concerning those who joined David in Hebron when the kingdom was transitioning from Saul to David. It’s in a part of the Bible we may gloss over following the laborious genealogies in 1 Chronicles 1-9. But there are some powerful gems in this section such as a description of the 50,000 warriors who had "helped David with an undivided heart" (1 Chronicles 12:33).

Let us consider the spiritual discernment of these men of Issachar, “who understood the times and knew what Israel should do". Issachar was one of Jacob’s sons and his descendants later became a tribe which had amazingly maintained their distinct identity for some 800 years up to the time of David.

Two qualities marked these men of Issachar and the special contribution they made during the time they lived.

I wonder if Paul had these men of Issachar in mind when he begins a section, "And do this, understanding the present time" (Romans 13:11).

Today we must earnestly seek the Lord so that we can understand the present time in which we live. He will show us how to remain faithful and fruitful, as we prayerfully represent His kingdom here on earth.

Be encouraged today, Hebrews 3:13