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Kingdom Messengers

Italy Discerning the times and the “Kingdom Train”

Yeshua invites us to discern the spiritual things (Mt. 16:1-4),

the signs of his return and of the end of the world (Mt. 24:32-34), and the time when we are visited by God (Lc. 12: 54-56 and Lk. 19:44).

WHAT DOES ‘TO DISCERN’ MEAN?

To discerning means to understand, to recognize, to distinguish, to consider diligently, and to decide. Discernment is a decision-making process in which an individual makes a discovery that can lead to future action.

In the process of spiritual discernment, God guides the individuals to help them arrive at the best decision in the right time according to his will. For it is God who works in us to will and to act in order to fulfil his good purpose (Phil. 2:13).

Discernment is therefore necessary to make right decisions at the right time. In this process, discerning the times is essential to recognize the specific moment when God is doing something and wants as to cooperate with him. So that we can be part of God’s manifesting purpose, receiving the honour and the benefit of being channels for it. YHWH is well pleased with us asking him to have understanding to discern what is right (1 King 3:11), given that the wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way (Pr. 14:8).

We are therefore called to discern what is the will of God for any specific time he appointed for his will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. This is a moral necessity to avoid misleading paths and to be qualified for timely doing Kingdom work.

Yeshua was saying that from the natural we should learn a lesson to discern the spiritual. We are called to understand when the heavenly appointed times are coming to their fullness in history. For when God will act, we may respond appropriately. Unless we do not discern the times!

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE MEAN BY “TIME” OR “TIMES”?

There is indeed a difference between the two Greek words that are used for time both in the LXX Old Testament version and the New Testament. One word is Kairos, which means the right, critical, opportune moment, or season for action. And Chronos, referring to chronological and sequential time, such as a day or an hour. Chronos is quantitative, Kairos has a qualitative, permanent nature. Kairos means the appointed time in the purpose of God. For example, we are in such a time when:

1. God acts as in Mk 1:15, when Yeshua said that “the time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand”. Or in Gal. 4:4, where Paul wrote “when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons”. And

2. Men have an opportunity for an existential decision at the right time and in the right place, the coming of the Messiah being the prime example.

HOW CAN WE DISCERN THE DIVINELY APPOINTED TIMES?

Once we are citizens of the Kingdom of God, we become partakers of the divine nature. It is the Holy Spirit who gives us the ability to discern. He entrusts us with a specific gift to discern the spirits and gives us his wisdom, understanding, counsel, power, knowledge, and inspires us with the holy fear of YHWH to make right decisions at the right times.

In the Bible we find that discernment was a gift specially given to the clans of Issachar. They were mighty warriors (1 Chr. 7:5), men who had discernment of the Kairos, to know what Israel ought to do (1 Chr. 12:32).

We are confident that in times as these, in which the signs are aligning with biblical prophecies as never before, the Holy Spirit is raising a new generation of mighty warriors with a double portion of the gift given to Issachar. They will have understanding of the times to know what to do. Discerning the times is a gift, a spiritual ability that we need at any moment of our lives, either individually or corporately.

Each “Kairos” is like a heavenly train that passes by. Whenever we discern that it is coming, we can help people to be willing and ready to jump on. And we will surely not miss it either.

As Paul prayed, I also do: “It is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment” (Phil. 1:9). ✽

Maurizio Tiezzi

Italy maurizio@cantonuovo.org