09/13/15 Understanding the Times to Know What to Do, Part 2 Text: Daniel 2:1-3, 14-23, 26-28 And of the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do; the heads of them were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their commandment. 1 Chronicles 12:32 Opening: I want to get right into things tonight and pick up right where we left off this morning Understanding the Times to Know What to Do 1. Understanding a. If we are going to understand the times, we must realize that it begins with a personal relationship with God. b. We must seek to accumulate Biblical knowledge which means we must spend time in God s Word instead of filling our minds with the junk of this world. c. As Christians, we must keep our lives free from sin so that the Holy Spirit can use the Word of God in lives to give us understanding and application of the Word of God. Turn to and read Colossians 1:3-10. Note: I need to preface my message tonight in a couple of ways. There a several good reasons why I don t often speak on current issues. For one, things happen so rapidly and change so quickly. What seems important on Monday a lot of times is completely forgotten by the following Sunday. That s why I would rather focus specifically on God and His Word and allow the Holy Spirit to direct the application. Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. Hebrews 13:8 A second reason is simply that more often than not I don t have no one has all the facts about any given situation. If you ll recall, I pointed out a couple of weeks ago the fact that in the story of Joseph, no one knew everything that was going on. That s why Joseph had to ask all those questions of his ten brothers.
Likewise, with the events that daily unfold around us, we don t know everything. We simply know whatever the news correspondents give us. But God, in His Word, has given us everything that we need to know 2. The Times Lessons to be learned a. Josh Duggar and Ashley Madison - Unfortunately, Josh Duggar has become quite familiar with people but for all of the wrong reasons. i. Our hearts are deceitful and wicked. The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings. Jeremiah 17:9-10 ii. Character matters! 1. Our reputation is what others know of us. Our character is what God truly knows us to be. And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. Genesis 6:5 2. I m sure that we probably all have skeletons in the closets that we would be ashamed for others to dig up! 3. We must remember the old saying, There but for the grace of God go I. But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. Romans 5:15 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 5:20-21
iii. Truth is still truth! While Josh s decisions have caused folks to brand him a hypocrite, the truths about marriage and family that he stood for as a representative of the Family Research Council and that I believe the Duggar Family stands for - are still truth. Marriage is a sacred institution, created by God, between one man and one woman that God has designed to last a lifetime. Any sexual relationships outside of the marriage relationship are sin! And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. Matthew 19:5-6 Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge. Hebrews 13:4 b. Kim Davis & Homosexual Marriage i. This situation which has transpired in Rowan County, Kentucky has garnered attention around the world. ii. This is a situation that has a lot of Christians confused. Some Christians say she should simply resign from her position. Others say she should continue her civil disobedience by not issuing marriage licenses. iii. However, I would like to put this out there for you to consider. I don t believe it has anything to do with whether she keeps her job or not. iv. I believe that the real issue is that the LGBT community and even our own government in many cases - is seeking to get Christians to bow the knee. Quote: The idea of natural law superseding this court s authority would be a dangerous precedent indeed. U.S. District Judge David L. Bunning Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;
And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. Matthew 4:8-10 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. Daniel 3:16-18 There are other current issues which I could speak to but I do not have the time in which to do that. However, allow me to say this seek to understand ever current issue through the lens of God s Word! 3. Knowing What to Do Let s look at Daniel s life to know what we should do. Turn to and read Daniel 6:1-5. a. Be faithful to God and have faith in God. i. he was faithful (vs. 4) ii. Determine, in every situation, to do right. iii. But then, you must also have faith strong confidence in God. iv. Turn to and read Daniel 6:21-23. And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions [Daniel], Quenched the violence of fire [Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego] Hebrews 11:32-34a b. Let holiness be your standard of success. i. they could find none occasion nor fault ii. neither was there any error or fault found in him
Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. 1 Peter 1:13-16 Quote: God s holiness demands certain responses. They have been identified as repentance, joy, worship, gratitude, and a studied imitation of God s holiness. They believer must examine his heart and make sure that he responds properly in action and spirit to God s holiness c. Refuse to bow the knee to all except God. Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime. Daniel 6:10 Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us. Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. Acts 5:28-29 Closing: Turn to and read Daniel 6:19-28. As a result, God prospered Daniel. Let s determine to 1) Be faithful and Have faith in God 2) Let holiness be our standard of success 3) Refuse to bow to all except God