Knowing the times! ... Watchfulness!

This is the first of what I hope will be many posts related to "Knowing the Times". The title is borrowed from 1 Chronicles 12:32, "Men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do."  It is borrowed too from Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones' book of the same name. Dr. Lloyd-Jones had a "God-given ability to put his finger on the essential issues and to apply the burden of God's Word."

We too need to develop not only in our ability to know and understand the times, but in the discipline of watchfulness as well. Watchfulness is only enriched and enhanced in our walk of faith according to our real knowledge and obedience to God's Word.

Now, the church in my opinion is not Israel, but we are certainly the church because of what God has done in and through Israel and His Old Testament. No one can deny that the Lord Jesus came to us because of God's work and prophetic preparation and initiation of sending His Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ. He came to this world through Israel to do His great work on the cross and to raise from the dead.  And we are grafted in and adopted into His kingdom.

We should be developing in these last days a discernment and watchfulness as we serve and extend the gospel and His church.
http://www.brianghedges.com/.../watchfulness-requires...

In his book "Watchfulness: Recovering a Lost Spiritual Discipline", Pastor Brian G. Hedges says, "...watchfulness is as necessary to a healthy spiritual life as meditation and prayer. Jesus tells His disciples to "watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation (Matt. 26:41)...and Hebrews commands mutual watchfulness and exhortation while also reminding us to obey those leaders who keep watch over our souls (Heb. 3:12; 13:17)...All believers, regardless of their station and season in life, need to be watchful."
Here is a blog post by Pastor Hedges which speaks to how our watchfulness is closely related to our wakefulness.  Click on the image below or the link above to read the blog article by Brian Hedges.
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Blessings! Pastor Robert