Discerning the Signs of the Times.
Why does God speak through these things? That was a question I had for many years as a young believer. Why all the types and shadows? Why all the dreams and interpreting spiritual moments? Why not just say it plainly?
I will never forget when the Holy Spirit revealed to me that things are interpreted and need to be discerned because God likes to be pursued! That was it. He wants to be sought after!
It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, But the glory of kings is to search out a matter.
—Proverbs 25:2
At the writing of this month’s newsletter, we are a few weeks removed from the Super Bowl. I bring this up because it seemed like an unusual amount of prophetic attention was on the Super Bowl this year. We shared prophetic insights regarding what we believed the Lord was showing us regarding the Super Bowl, Las Vegas, and other prophetic insights.
Over the years, there have been many instances by which the Spirit of the Lord has highlighted an event or a social occurrence—to shine light on something the Lord is saying. This kind of thing can receive negative press from time to time. Some may say, “The Super Bowl has nothing to do with God speaking.” Or there may be those who would convey that any current event has nothing to do with the Voice of God. On the one hand, I appreciate those comments as there is undoubtedly a lot of sensationalism in the greater body of Christ, yet there is still another side to this—signs, wonders, and God speaking in various ways.
I will show you what I mean shortly, but first, as New Testament believers, we must remember that prophecy moves in a space that must be identified as knowing in part and prophesying in part. We do not have the same mode of operation as the prophets in the Old Testament. For example, before the New Testament era, when a prophet spoke, it was a direct translation! Old Testament prophecies were a complete word-for-word message from the Lord to His people. In the New Testament era, the Voice of God coming through His people is a translation, not an interpretation!
Interpreting is better than translating.
The sons of Issachar are those who understood the times. There is more to 1 Chronicles 12:32, which references these sons of Issachar, than simply identifying their ability to discern the times. We can find three principles in this insightful scripture. Let’s look at it.
Of the sons of Issachar who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, their chiefs were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their command.
—1 Chronicles 12:32
- Understood the times
- What to do
- Chiefs and brethren at their command—these were their people, and they were organized.
In 1 Chronicles 12:32, we recognize that not only did the sons of Issachar discern the times, but they also knew what their nation should do about the times they lived in. However, the following is paramount for the effectiveness of the other two points! Notice it says their chiefs or leaders were two hundred. They knew how many they had with them, but additionally, all their brethren were at their command. What is this referring to? Simply put, this was their tribal alignment.
So often in my life, there has been a powerful discerning of the times—a revelation!
Additionally, there was a knowing of what should be done—interpretation!
The most difficult and arguably the hinge pin to making a real impact is the tribal alignment! Why? When you are with your people, you will be in your calling. Your people are part of your calling! We often say in our ministry, “You know you are with the right people because you cannot say the wrong thing to the right people.” You are understood by those who love you and get you. However, equally important is to recognize who you are not called to settle with and lock in with as a tribe. An identifier of this scenario might be that you cannot say the right thing to the wrong people. Tribal alignment is very important. If God is not giving you a relationship or a tribal setting, it is important not to force something prematurely that might be out of season or that God has not graced to happen. We must all be sensitive to where, when, why, but of high importance, who! Who are you called to roll with? For more on this topic, please check out my teaching called Tribes, available at the JosephZ.com online store.
Let’s take a more focused look at interpreting current cultural events and scenarios.
It is interesting how the Lord sometimes uses current events or cultural issues as a prophetic sign. Why? Someone might ask. Well, current events cover a wide range of eyes and ears; they influence the mood or zeitgeist of society. At times, such wide-reaching events can affect even the entire modern world. Through our devices, we can see or at least have some contact with these types of globally recognized happenings. When something is happening on a global scale, there can be prophetic nuances that the Bible refers to as “signs of the times.” Jesus said in Matthew 16, “How is it you know the signs of the sky but cannot read the signs of the times?”—Hypocrites was the label He used to describe this type of people! It is a pretty strong statement that Jesus said if you cannot discern the signs of the times happening all around you — you’re a hypocrite!
And in the morning, ‘It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times. 4 A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign shall be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.” And He left them and departed.
—Matthew 16: 3,4
It is important to realize we are NOT to seek a sign, but we are to discern what is happening around us. Discerning the times is simply a prophetic and logical action, where you can ascertain the times you are living through the unction of the Spirit and studying the Bible to show yourself approved. This is not a paint-by-numbers way of prediction or date setting. However, it is a way of recognizing the scope and season of time we are in. Much like the season in a year, we know it is fall because, in certain climates, the leaves change, or it is winter from the drop in temperature and the snow falling.
