DISCERNING THE SIGNS
(week 44/14)
OLUBI JOHNSON
Luke 12:54-56 KJV: And he said also to the people, When ye see a cloud rise out of the west, straightway ye say, There cometh a shower; and so it is. (55) And when ye see the south wind blow, ye say, there will be heat; and it cometh to pass. (56) Ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time?
Luke 21:25-28 KJV: And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; (26) Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. (27) And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. (28) And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
In the scriptures above, the Lord Jesus teaches us to discern the signs of His coming at the close of this age.
Observe that there are different signs:
1. Signs in the heavens (Lk. 21:25a).
2. Signs in the earth: the geography and climate (Lk.21:25b, Mt. 24:7).
3. Signs in the nations: political, economic and military (Mt.24:6-7a).
4. Signs in the hearts of men: behavior and attitudes (2 Tim. 3:1-9).
In fact there are so many signs RIGHT NOW, it is easy to confuse and misinterpret them, hence this present truth prophetic message!
We need BOTH the written scriptures and the revelation of the Holy Spirit to accurately discern the signs we are presently seeing.
Isaiah 8:20 KJV: To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.
Matthew 22:29 KJV: Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.
Why do we need to discern the signs ACCURATELY?
So we will KNOW ACCURATELY THE TIMES AND SEASONS and the COMING OF THE LORD WILL NOT COME UPON US UNAWARES LIKE A THIEF IN THE NIGHT.
Luke 21:34-35 KJV: And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. (35) For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.
1Thessalonians 5:1-4 KJV: But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. (2) For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. (3) For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. (4) But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
Now, we (just like the LORD JESUS DID NOT KNOW THE BEGINNING OF MIRACLES WOULD START AT THE WEDDING AT CANA OF GALILEE (JN. 2:4-11)) will NOT KNOW THE EXACT DAY OR HOUR, BUT we WILL KNOW THE TIME AND SEASON BY ACCURATELY DISCERNING THE SIGNS!
Mark 13:32 KJV: But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.
In our article next week, we will see HOW TO ACCURATELY DISCERN THE SIGNS.
