“Understanding the Times” Part III

1 Chronicles 12:32

-the Lord is looking for some sons and daughters of Issachar in 2015

understood – means to have insight and act with prudence and wisdom.  This is a skillful analysis of what is going on…….

-we are living in unstable times just like the days of Noah – corruption & violence in the world——a secular society

The Sons of Issachar knew what Israel should do.  With everything going on in the world today, what should the church be doing?

1. Preach and Teach the full counsel of God – Acts 20:27

-teach everything in the Bible and use every word in it

2. Desperate Prayer

-we need desperate prayer for desperate times…….

-1 Samuel 1:1-19

-this chapter is about Hannah’s prayer request

-Hannah was married to Elkanah who had another wife names Peninnah

-Hannah was barren and Peninnah had children

-to not have children was totally looked down upon at that time…

-Peninnah constantly ridiculed and mocked and tormented Hannah because of her barrenness.  This is a picture of the enemy coming against the believer……

v7 – the entire family heads toward the tabernacle in Shiloh to worship the Lord.  They did this year after year

PRINCIPLE:  as any believer moves toward the Lord and spiritual things, the battle gets hotter and more intense…

-the entire family was faithful to go to Shiloh to worship the Lord.  Hannah still saw nothing change and still had no children.

PRINCIPLE: the Lord is into marination and not microwaving

-in Christianity, things do not always happen quickly, immediately or now

-things can take time, a lot of time before the miracle, haling and salvation happens

-time is a test of maturity and growth

v9 – then one year, Hannah stood up and there was a change – she became desperate

-she prayed earnestly and the Lord answered – vs9-11, 19-20

-one woman’s desperate prayers changed a nation as Samuel was born…….

Hannah did 3 things:

1. Hannah saw the situation plainly

-our nation needs Jesus badly

2. Hannah did not accept the situation –

-Hannah did something about it/she took action

3. Hannah became desperate and prayed desperate prayers

-she had no place else to turn except to the Lord

***The Lord is looking for a storm team

-a storm is approaching our nation and world

-we need intercessors

-the Lord is looking for intercessors – Ezekiel 22:30-31 & 2 Chronicles 7:14

*who do we intercede for – 1 Timothy 2:1-4

-interceed means to stand in for another/to encounter/pleading for another