And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their pre-appointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings. Acts 17.26.
When we look at the vastness and complexity of the world today, it is incredible and amazing at the same time. The word of God made us understand that we all came from one blood. We are divided into nations and territories, and we further segregate against one another by setting a class mentality. God predetermines the times and boundaries of our dwellings. God determines our times and seasons. For us then to be successful in living, and moving according to the will and plan of God for our lives, we have to understand the God-ordained times and seasons.
If God ordained the times and the seasons and changed them, then it befits us to find out from Him what season we are living in and what we ought to be doing in every season.
This has nothing to do with the natural seasons of summer, autumn, winter, and spring but has everything to do with the spiritual seasons in a God-predetermined calendar for every individual or group of individuals.
As this year winds up, what determines how next year will look is how deeply we allow the Holy Spirit to lead and direct our paths, as the Bible says that ‘the steps of the righteous are ordered by the Lord’ (Psalm 37.23) and also that ‘they that are led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God’ (Romans 8.14).
And in the morning, ‘It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. Matthew 16.3.
Jesus scolded the Jewish religious leaders, saying that they knew how to study the weather and forecast, but they do not know how to discern and interpret the signs of time. This means we are expected to be discerning concerning the times and seasons of our lives. As prophetic people, we need to focus on what God is doing and saying and see things from God’s perspective. Let’s look at the four Greek words referring to time used in the New Testament.
- Aion: age, eternity, everlasting, world without end; referring to the eternal nature of God who created time (Hebrews 1.8)
- Chronos: normal passing of time, days to weeks, to months to years, i.e., chronological time, space of time, season, and an indication of a delay or a long time; (Galatians 4.4; Luke 20.9; John 5.6)
- Kairos: the right time, an opportune time, set time (Acts 17.26)
- Hora: the “now” time of God; an hour; a season; a specific set time or moment (John 2:4-5; 4:23; Matthew 8.13).
Understanding the times and seasons of our lives helps us harness and maximize the grace available for each season. It also helps us not draw the wrong conclusion by becoming unnecessarily suspicious or cynical.
Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed.” Romans 13.11.
From the events happening around us, we are living in such critical times today that it is imperative for believers to learn to use every tool given to them by the Holy Spirit. Looking at the geo-political and socio-economic developments in the world today, far and near, it is obvious that the world is living on a time bomb. As believers, we are called to be kingdom influencers—to discern the times in which we live, to discern the moves of the Holy Spirit, and to discern angels and demons.
We must seek to understand what God is doing at the moment and what he is doing in this season. We ought to discern
- the presence of God
- the times we live in
- the move of angels and demons
- the state of hearts of people around you
- how to act wisely with the revelation
Life is not just to eat and drink and “enjoy” the pleasure and desires of our hearts. “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Romans 14.17
May your spiritual antenna be open and active to discern times and seasons