Thread by @glprater

#GeraldsDevotional
Discernment and the Spirit of the Sons of Issachar
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Last week we discussed the importance of discerning the spirits in the world today. Today the Lord placed this theme on my heart to discuss about the importance for us to discern the signs of the times. A sub-theme of this message is a reminder that as our Jehovah Jireh, the Lord

is always with us and has already provided everything that we need.

The Sons of Issachar
In 1 Chronicles 12, David was a fugitive and was preparing for war against Saul. David was fulfilling the destiny and plan that the Lord had for him and the nation of Israel. This was a war

of infiltration from within. As David assembled his army at Hebron, the Lord provided thousands of mighty men of valor from all of the tribes of Israel. Each group had certain strengths that would help David be victorious. But one group from the tribe of Issachar was described as

only having 200 chiefs and their brothers who followed them. Their contribution was not in numbers like the other tribes. Verse 32 says that they “had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do.” This is the spirit of the Sons of Issachar, the ability to discern

the signs of the times, and it was God’s provision through them to David’s army. The Lord is providing that very same spirit to us today.

In the New Testament, Jesus often admonished the Jewish leaders for their failure to be able to see the signs of the times.

He even at times cautioned His disciples about this tendency (as we will see in a moment). In last Friday’s devotional, we read in Matthew 16 when the Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and demanded that He show them a sign to prove that He was God.

As we discussed last Friday, the Lord had just fed a huge crowd with 7 loaves and a few fish. This was the latest in a long series of miracles and healings (signs) that He had performed. But these people were too focused on their religion and the ways of this world so they were

not able to discern and refused to listen. As a result, they made very poor decisions.

Even the disciples of Jesus had to be reminded often. In Matthew 16:5 immediately after Jesus had refused to show the Jewish leaders another sign, His disciples came to Him with concerns that

they didn’t have enough bread. These were the very same disciples who had just seen and actively took part in the feeding of the large crowd. Jesus cautioned them to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees (to not make the same mistake that they did). Just as it was

with David at Hebron, the Lord was with them, already knew what would happen and had provided everything that they needed.

Walking in the Light
Jesus often cautioned the people by reminding them that He is the Light and that they should walk with Him while He is with them and

not focus on the darkness of this world lest they should stumble and fall. In John 12:35 after He told of His coming death on the cross, Jesus said the following:

35 “A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you;

he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going. 36 While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.”

Today we have His Spirit to help us walk in His Light, discern the times (God’s truth), and then to know what we ought to do.

The prince of this world uses fear, lies and distraction to try to get us to walk in the darkness and to stumble. But once again, just as He was with David, the Lord is with us and has already provided everything that we truly need.

Now for today’s scripture reading, let’s read

what Paul said about this same subject and the spirit of the Sons of Issachar to help us discern and know what to do. It is found at the end of Romans chapter 13 beginning at verse 11.

Put on Christ
11 And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. 12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor

of light. 13 Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts. - Romans 13:11-14

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