A few years ago while studying the book of 1 Chronicles I ran across an obscure verse in chapter 12 that the Lord used for a very specific purpose. Verse 32 reads, "Men of Issachar, who understood the times and knew what Israel should do." At the time I was seeking God for clarity concerning what He was doing in the world today. I had heard a speaker say that the greatest thing that you can do with your life is find out what God is doing in your generation and throw yourself entirely into that work. Though I knew generally what God was doing, tirelessly wooing and drawing people unto Himself, I wanted specifics.

Then He highlighted this scripture for me. It literally jumped off the page and into my heart. Here was one of the twelve tribes of Israel. God had given each of them various strengths, and the tribe of Issachar excelled at understanding the spiritual implications of the broad events during the time which they lived and as a result were able to instruct Israel with what it should do spiritually. How many of us feel as if we're often living without real spiritual understanding related to the events of our time. And most of us would definitely confess that we don't feel confident enough about our understanding that we would seek to instruct others about what should be done spiritually. The good news is that we CAN understand these things and God calls us to partner with Him in seeking after this. God doesn't deliberately hide understanding from us; it's simply that too few of us are wholeheartedly seeking after it.

This scripture led me on a spiritual quest seeking a greater understanding of the times we live in and the implications of this for how I live on a daily basis. God wants us to gain understanding regarding the bigger picture of what He is whispering to listening hearts through global events as well as small and seemingly unimportant events. This doesn't just fall into our laps, however. The sons of Issachar knew the times because they knew the God who was in control of the times and grasped His heart intentions and actions in the context of the bigger picture. This took time, effort and work on their part. This verse stands out as the result of their hard work over many years of going deep with God, watching, listening, and obeying His word. In a similar fashion we must ask God to broaden our perspective on global and local events in the context of His broader purposes and desires. This gets us out of the mire of seeing spiritual things with a fish-bowl mentality instead of a global reality of a God who is in control and steadily moving things in a specific direction. This is a primary difference between believers who join what God is doing in the big picture and those who do not and thus get sidelined from involvement. The answer is spiritual perspective. Do we have it or not? If not, let's seek God for it wholeheartedly.

The major way to gain this perspective is through studying the Word and specifically the end-times passages in the Bible. It seems that too many believers have been afraid to study in depth what the Bible has to say about the last days due to abuses that various teachers in the body of Christ have brought concerning the subject. To become people who understand the times in a spiritual manner we must first grasp what the Bible says about our times and the end-times. The Bible is full of prophetic glimpses into those times and we must gain a deeper understanding if we will understand what God is doing today. It is also not as confusing as we may think. I guarantee that to study this subject Biblically with an open heart will cause you to rethink some of the ways you may be living today. They open up spiritual perspective in a powerful way. Some passages to start with are Isaiah 2, Isaiah 24-27, and parts of Revelation. Get a reliable commentary and ask God to open your eyes to what He is saying and wants you to understand.

Even as there are spiritual times globally that we need understanding on, to be successful as believers we also must recognize the importance of this in our individual lives. There are seasons to our lives, they ebb and flow. A misunderstanding of this can breed serious discouragement and even take us out of the race. The reason it is so important to grasp this is because the Holy Spirit is trying to teach us lessons consistently and if we do not interpret a season correctly we could miss out on all that the Lord is seeking to do in us.

God is committed first and foremost to building us up and forming us into the image of Jesus. He is secondarily committed to using us in the process of development. One of the greatest deceits the enemy convinces many believers with is that they must be perfect before they can go out and serve God. This is NOT God's heart! As you have committed your path to the Lord as a Message Bearer to the ends of the earth, know that you are on the most exciting life-long journey of God developing you and forming you, as you GO!

There are seasons of deep renewal from the Lord and other seasons in the wilderness, both from God. There are seasons of fruitfulness and also seasons of pruning when all seems to be going horribly. There are seasons of answered prayer as well as seasons of sowing aggressively in intercession with no signs of breakthrough. Each of these has a divine purpose behind it and to move out of the season and "graduate" from it we need to submit ourselves to God and let Him do His full work, teaching us the lessons of the faith and of following Him. I have learned over the years to ask the question, "Lord, what are you trying to teach me?" during every difficult situation and in every season the Lord brings.

In Deuteronomy 11:13-14 we find the basic prerequisite to coming into various seasons of fruitfulness. We see that to love the Lord your God and to serve Him is central to receiving the "rain" in its season which brings forth the fruit. Even here though we are told that the rain comes in season and when it does come it accomplishes its purpose: to gather in spiritual fruit. Are we faithfully loving Him (drawing near to Him, living in obedience to Him, loving His people) and then serving Him out of a pure heart with our lives now? If we are and this is increasing in our lives regularly, then we can expect the "rain" to fall which will in time bring forth fruit. Don't grow weary in doing good in whatever work you find yourself serving in presently. Remain faithful, loving God and serving Him with a pure heart and He will pour out the "rain" which brings forth the spiritual fruit. Your season of fruitfulness is right around the corner!

Prayer:

Lord, I long to be a person who grasps what you are doing in my day and generation! Open my eyes and teach me your ways, your heart, and your dealings through global events as I become a student of your Word. The sons of Issachar knew the times and as a result knew what to do for you, make me like this as well. God, do whatever it takes to form me as a Message Bearer with spiritual perspective. Rip out of me those fleshly ways of seeing things that keep my spiritual perspective grounded. Give me your eyes to see beyond my little world, and to see the globe with your eyes and to feel your passions flowing. I also see the need to study the Bible concerning the last days. So much of this stuff is confusing to me. As I study shine your light upon me. Holy Spirit, you are the one who leads us into all truth, come and lead me into truth and understanding regarding the last days. Give me the strength to live rightly in light of my findings.

Some Recommended Books:

• The Journals of Jim Elliot  by Elisabeth Elliot
•  Learning To Love People You Don't Like  by Floyd McClung
• Victory in Adversity  by R. Edward Miller
• More To Be Desired Than Gold  by Christy Wilson
• Fire On The Horizon  by Winkie Pratney
• Intimate Friendship With God  by Joy Dawson
• Amazing Faith – The Life Story of Bill Bright  by Michael Richardson
   
  These should all be available at Amazon and other on-line booksellers.