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[0:00] 1 Samuel 22 is where we're going to go to. My message today is about understanding.! Understanding the times. The times. Young David was a hunted man, running for his life from King Saul.

[0:16] And David fled into the wilderness! Imagine David in this cave.

[0:34] 1 Samuel 22 verse 2 And everyone that was in distress and everyone that was in debt and everyone that was discontented gathered themselves unto him.

[0:46] And he became a captain over them. And there were with him about 400 men. So a band of men gathered around David.

[0:57] These men had been men oppressed under the reign of King Saul. And it was a time of concern and trouble. What a ragtag bunch these folk were. These men were in distress.

[1:09] Their lives torn. They were in debt. They were discontented. Sounds a bit like our community, doesn't it? Sounds a bit like where we live, doesn't it? This world, this nation of ours.

[1:22] Many people going through some tough things. Their lives were under pressure. These men. Their world was in turmoil. And they sought after God's appointed king.

[1:32] They gathered themselves unto him, unto King David. These men became David's army. They later described like this. 1 Chronicles 12 It seems like it's a different group of people but no, it's the same.

[1:49] 1 Chronicles 12.38 Reads of these men, all these men of war that could keep rank came with a perfect heart to Hebron to make David king over all Israel.

[2:01] And all the rest also of Israel were of one heart to make David king. So what was once this motley bunch of men hurting and hopeless and harassed now became an army ready for battle.

[2:17] And these men had now become a battle-ready army. They had become men who had self-discipline and order. They had a heart that wanted to follow and honour the king.

[2:29] They were whole-hearted men. Makes you think, I suppose, you see these videos of the raw recruits for the US Marines as they turn up off the bus and they get shouted at by the sergeant major and then you see what they end up being.

[2:45] This military unit with all this precision and marching and discipline. And this is the ragtag bunch that became this mighty army.

[2:57] And it says they were of one heart for their king, King David. Now, note, as we've talked about in our Wednesday studies on typology, that David is a type of Christ.

[3:10] David is pictured as a type we can look to that represents Christ. And we see of these men they could represent, I suppose, believers unto the king, our king, our Christ.

[3:27] the son of David, the mighty king of kings and lord of lords. And it says of these men who were once this motley bunch, now they were all mighty men of valour.

[3:41] They were courageous men, mighty men. And they were prepared men. It says in 1 Chronicles 12, 23, in part, that they were ready, armed, to the war.

[3:53] Lord, I'd like to put to you today how we can have that like spirit of these men once in discontent and troubled become a mighty army, ready and armed to the war.

[4:11] We live in days of distress and concern, don't we? There's so much trouble, spiritual upheaval. I'm staggered every time I read the news.

[4:21] It's almost like it's in your face, the evil of the day and without really having a, you know, getting your Christian lens out and looking at the newspaper as in looking at the news articles, the news media, it's, wow, this is Satan at work again.

[4:38] His fingerprints are all over the news, aren't they? Really, social media. And oughtn't we to have that discernment in such a time as this?

[4:51] These are days that call for men and women to turn to the king, to the king of kings and the lord of lords, our precious lord. These are times that call for boldness and for courage, for men to stand, for women to stand, for the right, with strength, with wholeheartedness as David's men, that they were of one heart.

[5:15] They came with a perfect heart. They came with one heart. We ought to have a wholeheartedness about the things of God. And we need to prepare for an escalation of hostilities.

[5:26] This is really just the lead up to. It's ramping up, I put to you. And David's men, David's army, were said to be on the alert. In particular, what made these men strong was this.

[5:39] we see in 1 Chronicles 12, 32, in part, that these were men that had understanding, had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do.

[5:57] Really, to focus on this sense of understanding of the times. These men stood by their king. They knew the reality of the days that they were in.

[6:07] And they had discernment. They were aware. They were wising up. They had understanding. And my message today is about that.

[6:17] It's about that understanding of the times, of knowing what we must do. Do. It's important that we know what's really happening.

[6:28] What's really going on. As I say, get the magnifying glass out and actually see what the signs are. and take notice spiritually of what that means spiritually for us.

[6:41] The Bible tells us of a world where people's foolish hearts are going to be darkened and professing themselves to be wise. They became fools.

[6:52] It's the context of people denying the witness of creation, of the ignorance that prevails. fools. And this is the world we are living in where those who profess themselves to be wise have become fools.

[7:09] You know, I think there's a lot of fools in the universities of today. And I'm not saying that to deride education. I've got a master's degree and I was a PhD candidate.

[7:23] I could be a doctor by now but I didn't pursue it. But it's easy enough to get qualifications as the world would count it and letters after your name but sadly what universities are pumping out now is not truth.

[7:41] It's generally lacking. It's tainted. And I love this quote which says it all to me and it really jumps at me how this person wrote this.

[7:54] Doctors destroy health. Lawyers destroy justice. Universities destroy knowledge. Governments destroy freedom.

[8:06] The major media destroy information. Religions destroy spirituality and Bible publishers destroy God's word.

[8:17] This is shocking isn't it? But I believe all this is true. What it's saying here sadly the doctors aren't actually making people better they're making people worse.

[8:28] We see what the law says is often injustice really unjust and what universities are putting out it's not knowledge it's lies and governments are destroying freedom.

[8:42] Media is full of falsehoods religions destroying true spirituality and they're even printing Bibles that aren't Bibles anymore. A war is being waged on the truth.

[8:55] This is the world this is the truth there's a shocking lack of knowledge that's happening and we should have an understanding of the times. The evidence is staring people in the face creation it's everywhere you look the problem is not the brain the problem is the knees they won't bow down to God it's not the brain it's the knees they've got a knee problem they won't bow down people don't know God do they they don't know him this is the biggest problem in the world today in our planet today there's a deliberate ignorance it's willful ignorance willful ignorance why do they disbelieve their minds are actually blinded there's this blindfold on their brain talking of the lost it tells us here of the God small g Satan it tells of the lost in whom the world the God of this world had blinded the minds of them which believe not lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ who is the image of God should shine unto them friends these days are called the last days the signs are more evident than they have ever been

[10:07] I put to you I believe that we are living in at least the prelude to such a time 2 Peter 3 verse 3 reads knowing this first that there shall come in the last days scoffers walking after their own lusts and saying where is the promise of his coming for since the fathers fell asleep all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation for this they willingly are ignorant of that by the word of God the heavens were of old and the earth standing out of the water and in the water it's talking about creation they deny it they deny the God who made the heavens and the earth there's a gross lack of understanding and they're willingly willfully so denying Bible truth mockers scoffers they're like the mockers of Noah's day and they'll end up in the same boat well out of the boat that's the problem whereby the world that then was being overflowed with water perished you know friends it's really a sad sad time isn't not that this mocking this scorning this scoffing the arrogance of the unbelieving judgment looms judgment looms the average

[11:29] Joe stands culpable culpable in other words they have no defense they've got every chance of reaching out and knowing God but they refuse it willingly ignorant willfully so and they'll be swept away in judgment just as it was in the days of Noah fearful times are upon us we see it every day every time we go witnessing and people are willingly ignorant refusing the gospel every time it's another nail in their spiritual coffin damned fearful times I believe we're at a pivotal time in the history of our planet the Lord tells us signs of his coming and these men with David they had an understanding of the times they were aware of the anointed king Christ was truly rightfully king they were of one heart to make him king and it's the same for us today either we will have ignorance or we'll have understanding there's no middle ground the Bible urges us what we are to do in such a time as this it tells us of redeeming the time because the days are evil wherefore be not unwise but understanding understanding what the will of the

[12:56] Lord is we have much need of understanding of understanding the times and of understanding what the will of the Lord is of being a people who are redeeming the time does the will of God matter to you do we understand what the will of God is does it matter do we care to know it and to do his will there's no time to waste there's really not it deeply saddens me when you're reaching out and you're telling someone of eternal things and they say I'm not interested one day they will be very very interested very interested but it's going to be too late then honestly it's too late then there's no time to waste we can so easily waste time we can either be wise or wasteful there's a phrase make up for lost time fact is you can't once it's gone it's gone and for each of us individually and for all of mankind time is a closed system in other words you cannot add to it and you cannot subtract from it so each one of us has a fixed amount of time a determined amount of seconds that you will live how wise a steward are you being of that finite resource time our flesh is as grass it says it's like the flower of grass the grass withereth and the flower thereof falleth away our lives are short the mortality of us it hits us sooner or later doesn't it when we hear of loved ones of friends of family or even our own selves that time is short friends truly our allotted time ultimately will come to an end and we'll have that appointment that we will keep

[14:56] I don't know about you but I've got a tendency to be a little late to things at times but there's going to be no rescheduling of this appointment and you will get there right on time it says that it's appointed unto man once to die there's an appointment in God's heavenly calendar that's got your name on it that's a daunting thought is it not that time is finite there's a shortness of time we're called to redeem the time why because the days are evil the days are evil we need to see through the smoke screens and realize the evil and spiritually dangerous times that we're living in at the heart of all of this is a gross lack of understanding because some people do not understand they do not have that spiritual understanding and there's anti-God ideologies throwing junk at us pressing upon us and our children they're being conditioned with this godless philosophy there's an increasing expectation that we conform conform all of us now

[16:12] I'm going to show you some things that illustrate that hopefully without detracting from what we want to focus upon which is the word of god but there's some things we cannot be neutral about we cannot be neutral about what the bible says and calls sin we dare not do not compromise with the world do not you've possibly heard of recent information of the latest toy story sounds pretty fun and harmless but the latest toy story movie called light year features a lesbian kiss and I'm sorry to be so blunt today but we need to be shocked and disturbed Disney is grooming our children to evil that's what's happening we should be grieved we should be angered this should make us angry should it not I saw yesterday just as I was on the internet an advert came up from

[17:15] Amnesty International Amnesty International probably do some good things here and there and people might think they're a good kind of organisation and Amnesty International they're running a petition now to the government to ban conversion practices nationwide to make it illegal to say that sodomites need to be saved they are rejoicing that this is now the law of the land in the state of Victoria this is the law now you can get prosecuted and fined imprisoned for trying to urge someone to know Christ and to leave sin they want this nationally that's what they want and Biden in the USA he signed it into law President Biden in the US he's made it the law of the!

[18:04] there these are developments within the last few days this is recent news stories now I'm not saying homosexuality is any worse than any other sin it's just one sin of many but it's a sign is it not that this is something that should be so blatantly obvious is being accepted and applauded celebrated promoted and these kinds of laws the laws that US have now that Victoria has now they're looking at implementing throughout our nation in other states as we speak right now imposing these far reaching restrictions on your biblical beliefs and even on your private conversations about gender and sexuality with your own children we're talking about this is your children that are impacted here this comes right down to your home to your loved children your boys and girls they're wanting to stop you from telling them the truth and parents pastors and medical practitioners and

[19:09] Tasmanians are effectively being banned from helping anyone that's in Tasmania too already banning people from helping anyone struggling with sexuality or gender confusion and if you do so you could be criminalized and even deemed a child abuser this is shocking stuff I saw another horrific thing lately in America there was a drag queen story hour and there was parents and people protesting about it because the particular performer had some very gross things that they had put out there it's sickening stuff and I don't want to labour!

[19:52] it or fill your minds with anything sick and evil because it's just so wildly evil and the law is now coming after the ones who protested it's the ones who protested who could face criminal prosecution for disrupting this abomination that's trying to groom children to this evil stuff friends in Victoria now they've just brought in legislation that effectively stops Christian schools from firing or refusing to hire LGBTQ plus staff Christian schools Christian schools even they are being pushed more and more into going along with the evil of these days it's nothing sacred it's no place of safety it's all the more reason to consider should I even be sending my children to a Christian school what's going on it's shocking stuff here's another story as well even churches aren't safe the activists are attacking anyone who stands up for

[21:01] Bible truth and hates biblical Christianity friends they'll stop at nothing they're not going to stop at one little victory they're going to keep going and going and going and they want a complete takeover of society here's another recent story this is another school across the ditch in New Zealand three days ago commentary as follows from a group it's called Family First New Zealand I'll quote are we heading towards state controlled and monitored religion in New Zealand in this case the ministry of education has warned of intervention if Bethlehem College a Christian school does not remove its so called controversial biblical belief that marriage is between a man and a woman the school isn't even asking for others to adopt their beliefs they're simply stating those beliefs Bethlehem College is a Christian school after all so a Christian school can't even have some statement about what marriage is which is plain obvious between a man and a woman and they're bullying

[22:09] Christians everywhere it's worldwide it's Australia it's US it's New Zealand we need to understand what's happening wake up oh sleeper wake up Australia it's no wonder when we look at our pagan land of those surveyed in 2016 the highest percentage checked no religion as their belief that's 30% of the population darkness has enveloped the land friends we are seriously facing times of evil the days are evil sadly the church is asleep the church is asleep by and large I know Christians who go along with some of this rot that's going on and instead of changing the world we're changing ever to be more like the world and just accepting of it just rolling over and accepting it many in churches are turning from the sacred to the secular they're just throwing out clear biblical teachings to fit in with a godless culture

[23:14] Australia get ready for the reaping time you will reap what you sowed Australia the Bible urges that we stand strong ye that love the Lord hate evil it says Psalm 97 10 if we love the Lord we should hate evil we should be against it we should be opposing it we should be confronting it we should be speaking our up against it according to the 2011 national church life survey one in three Australians were regular church goers in 1972 one in three in 1972 now it's more like one in six probably worse now going to church is one thing of course we know you can go to church and be an absolute heathen but it's a reflection is it not a reflection and there's radical moves now a foot to push on people a redefinition and a re-education of gender and sexuality the change agents are redefining everything parents' rights are being eroded as schools start to indoctrinate and instill their evil agenda educators are promoting this this radical gender theory abortion is being pushed with late term abortions a sickening reality in many places friends the battle lines have been drawn we need to be like the men of

[24:43] David's day of the army of David and be understanding of the times and be courageous the battle lines have been drawn the word of God says Isaiah 5 verse 20 woe unto them woe unto them in other words damnation unto them they call evil good and good evil that put darkness for light and light for darkness that put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter you can change the label on that bottle of poison but it doesn't change what it is it doesn't change anything that's what's going on they're changing the label we need to warn the people like Noah did as in the days of Noah and consider for ourselves what are we feeding ourselves with it makes us who we are some people have a diet of junk food and it makes them unhealthy now I know I'm probably guilty of that too but what about your mind is it spiritual junk food is it mental junk food that you're feeding your mind with what are you feeding your mind on is it trash TV is it worldly thinking is it worldly philosophies it's like a diet of mental junk food no wonder there's a lack of understanding people consider how the

[26:00] Bible describes the period known as the last days as being perilous times why is there so much evil going on the days are evil because of sin the days are evil because of sin like Joseph said before men love darkness rather than light they love it they love the darkness rather than the light Romans 3 10 as it is written there is none right to snow not one there is none!

[26:36] after God it reads on destruction and misery are in their ways and the way of peace have they not known there is no fear of God before their eyes notice that the days are evil because of sin it says destruction and misery these are the consequences of sin it's what sin causes isn't it destruction misery don't we see it all around us lives ruined!

[27:03] lost and the ultimate aspect of sin is that there is no fear of God before their eyes they don't think they've got one to answer to or they'll shake their fist in his face but they will have to answer they are rebels at the heart but they will have to answer they'll have to get that knee problem sorted because every knee shall bow may we be understanding of the times I urge you today to open your eyes and have that understanding of the times that we're living in that this world is increasingly spiritually bankrupt and this world is facing the wrath of God and friends meantime they're laughing all about it all aren't they they're making their jokes and fun and their crude jokes and their innuendos mocking what is modest and clean and virtuous and soiling our minds in the process and then mocking God and cursing his name as part of the comedy routines fools mock at sin but among the righteous there is favour this is nothing to laugh about it's damnation we are called to be different so friends we get joy and rejoicing but it's found in the truth as it reads!

[28:21] 1 Corinthians 13 6 of charity of God's love it rejoices not in in sin but it rejoices in the truth so friends the days we live in they are evil these are deeply troubling times and I don't mean to weigh you down with this but these are days of pressure these are days like David's time and we see what it tells us everyone was in distress everyone was in debt everyone was discontented these folk they were in this devastating place and people all around us in the streets all around us are anxious and worried they're overcome overwhelmed many have no peace or a fake peace people can try to turn in vain to pills or drugs or drink but it's vain it will not help them and we must reach them make your time count your life think about is what you're engaged in right is it right before

[29:35] God what if Christ came back while you were taking part in it would you be ashamed no there's things if they're questionable don't do the questionable if it's doubtful don't redeem the time because the days are evil how are you using your time is it right use of your time are you're putting the first things first our nation is broken it's damaged and it's spiralling more and more into moral chaos and people have abandoned biblical standards of righteousness it's like they're following this crowd falling off a cliff like lemmings blindly following the leaders of the blind people just blindly going along with the crowd while everybody else is doing it why should I be different why should I stand this little minority group that is a bible believing Christian I'll just follow the crowd and they're falling off the cliff friends they're blindly going along this broad way thinking little of spiritual truth that's the majority that's the 99 out there when you go and talk to people on the streets around here they don't care they don't give a thought

[30:48] I'll work it out one day I'm good she'll be right that's their attitude isn't it no worries mate I'm good no you're not I'm good people are blindly following along the crowd aren't they like Hitler's day when he came to power just blindly following follow the masses the majority friends usually the majority is wrong the bible tells us that they won't trust Christ as their saviour they'll just take their own path they will not take the way of life they're willfully ignorant don't tell me I don't want to know go away had people tell me in no uncertain terms not to knock on their door before I even get near the door because they don't want a bar of it they hate God they love evil they love evil they hate the light

[31:49] I was there in effect I was there I might have been more polite about it but I was there I was a Christ rejecter we all were once weren't we in effect if we're not a Christ receiver we're a Christ rejecter and they will not trust Christ as their saviour I'll go my own way I'll try my chances it doesn't work like that it doesn't work like that you've got to get it right this side of the grave trust Christ now people have lost the truth there's a dumbing down sin is still the transgression of the law of God's law 1 John 3 verse 4 we've got to get our sin dealt with we've got to come to Christ to get forgiveness to know him our world desperately needs the saviour many are asleep to what's going on they're lulled into this false sense of security so like a picture

[32:55] I saw of someone sitting in a canoe lying back in the lapping of the waters and just over the horizon is the Niagara Falls they're lulled into this false sense of security friends there's no time to waste to get right with God don't leave it another day not another minute trust Christ now and we should be as those not sleeping as do others but we should be watching and be sober these are days that call for us to be sober to be vigilant the devil doesn't want you sober but God wants you to be like David's army men of war that could keep rank came with a perfect heart to make David king of one heart to make David king a disciplined fighting unit that's what he wants us to be marching in step with our great king and we have need of that true understanding about what's going on these days call for sober minded men and women people who are wise up and discern the times people will be sober and alert really it boils down to that sunday school song the wise man built his house upon the rock isn't it it's that simple build it there on the rock my words he says the

[34:21] Lord or will we build on the sand splat yeah it's really one or the other is it not on the rock or on the! and the wise man the one who had understanding built his house upon the word of God on God's truth so friends the word of God is very clear about this need for soberness being sober minded be sober be vigilant he telling us of an adversary the devil he says a roaring lion walking about seeking him he may devour friends sometimes he's not like a lion though he's like a little pussy cat you just want to oh how cute I think that's what he kind of he veils himself in ways that you wouldn't know the lion is there he's not a roaring lion!

[35:07] all the time he's kind of he wants to be a little pet I think the best cat is a flat cat he's like a pussy cat isn't he so nice that's the devil he'll fool you the enemy of our soul wants to intimidate sorry to all the cat lovers there I know I have caused great offence the enemy of our soul wants to intimidate and threaten us doesn't he he wants Christians to be fearful to shrink back from the challenges to weaken our faith many in the world have lost hope today they'll busy themselves with anything but spiritual things they don't have an understanding of spiritual things there's a mental block it's unbelief it's a mental block there and some will fret and fuss about the day today with no thought for eternity they're too busy making a buck paying off the mortgage you know having a fun time to care about eternity eternity is just around the corner it's just around the corner it's just moments away in the scheme of eternity eternal truth should matter some are worrying and burdened about all their cares and making a living and yet not thinking about eternity friends we must care about eternity we must see beyond the present time understand have understanding the devil wants to be fooled and distracted we've got to see beyond the present time and know that there is a hope yes there is a hope yes absolutely this is no time for despair really or distress because there is a blessed hope for you that believe a glorious joyful hope and we've got reason to hope a hope that's beyond the grave a hope that we can impart to others too it's a sure and confident expectation in the times we could consider we're in the prelude too if not closely in them the last days it's not a time for despair but it's a time for hope and it's a time for faith it's a time for assurance we've got to discontent with what this world counts as important because our refuge is in

[37:33] God alone we've got to hope beyond this visible world as with David's men we can be a people with courage we can stand out from the crowd we can be a people who will keep rank we'll march forward for our king we'll be solid strong committed loyal and with one heart we'll be prepared for his coming our lord's coming we'll have that true understanding of what's going on we'll have that firm foundation we're going to be the people who know what we are going to do as well it gives us a readiness for action so how are we to respond in days of evil as mighty men we're to have an understanding of the times to see see realise what is going on and know what it is we're meant to do the lord calls us to redeem the time how can we do that take an inventory take a stock take it's quite challenging

[38:34] I know I've heard it put how even worldly time management people talk about doing a bit of a calendar a bit of a record of how you're spending your day what does it look like is it about the father's business do we have that sense of mission are we increasing our understanding biblically are we investing in our soul in understanding the word of god the will of god his revealing of it to us if we care about knowing god's will we'll want to feed our spirit with the right stuff feed our spirit with bible truth and knowledge we'll want to apply the word to our everyday lives and not only will we know his will we'll commit to doing it in nehemiah's day they had a mammoth job of building the wall again and the people rallied to nehemiah to join the cause and it reads about how they built the wall they join it together how so the people had a mind to work the understanding the mind the will the consciousness says i will work i will do god's will i will do god's works so i will have faith i will have faith in action i'll show it in my giving i'll show it in my worship i'll show it in my witnessing i'll show it in my time with the word in my being true to god i'll work the works of god i'll show his humility his love i'll live his life i'll reach out i'll be a real christian i'll be a genuine one but friends most people are in this hypnotic trance isn't it they're groping around they're stumbling they're spiritually lacking will we be a god-fearing people such that the truth impacts our everyday thinking and we'll take it seriously understanding what the will of the lord is and understanding what he wants us to do it talks about an understanding of the holy david's men were battle hardened will we be minded such that we'll have an awareness so when we hear the news or watch it or read it that will read between the lines we'll see yeah that's another sign that's another thing i've got to be alerted about because i'm going to understand the times and i'm going to be such that i'll be like david's men men of war who can keep rank my heart is going to be whole hearted i'm going to have an understanding to know what i ought to do judgment looms souls are at stake and perilous times are ahead time is a gift from god it's true wealth really isn't it the time that we have is really what really we ought to value our time where we let god's word govern our lives and the choices that we make to know what we are to do what we ought to do you are safe to serve you are made for a mission every one of you has a personal assignment from god nothing matters more than finding that and doing it the god haters are mobilizing let me show you just a couple more instances of it what's happening in tasmania right now i don't know if people heard about it it's called dark mofo it's happening right now in tasmania they've taken over tasmania at the moment it's happening right now a drunken occult festival to celebrate the winter solstice it's called the dark mofo they're singing hymns to the dead occult laced performances by heavy metal bands the dark raves and club settings look like the backdrop to a horror flick the shadowy artwork music promoting

[42:35] shamanism or witchcraft masonic symbols bizarre and warped music burning effigies they've got upside down crosses they're dressing up like monks and nuns and the pope mocking christian things it's just in your face dark mofo it's darkness friends darkness is overtaking our nation and for godly men and women we've got to hold up the umbrella as it were to protect our families from what's going on we're seeing our nation's moral foundations crumbling people are increasingly accepting what's loathsome and vile i won't show you a picture of a recent abominable act at a popular music stars concert lately what she wore people might have heard about that too it's in your face that you can't take your family to a music concert not that you'd want to i think anyway but we desperately need god's blazing light to expose the darkness what's bewitching people the sickness that's binding people like captives darkness gross darkness it's enveloping the earth and it's bringing a curse and a snare there's many examples of darkness i know here's what someone illustrated proverbs 22 verse 6 you know train up a child in the way they should go mums and dads we need to be holding up the shield to the fiery darts that are going against our families friends there's many examples of the darkness and friends two wrongs don't make a right two dads don't make a mum you know it's irrational as well as abomination isn't it this is sickness this is mental illness and we're foretold that such evil trends where they'll put darkness for light and light for darkness there's going to be a sign it's a sign that we need to understand we need understanding we need to understand the will of god parents rise up and train up your children be that protector of your home be that one who's saying no i don't want that in my child's ear that deliverance is possible we're seeing this relentless bombardment ideological attacks on christianity they're attacking christian schools and all manner of things to erode religious freedom they want to remove the lord's prayer from parliament we see politicians promoting the legalisation of prostitution you can have a brothel on your street corner if they have their way we've got a fight on our hands this is what's happening it's a battle against the darkness we should be understanding the times and let's not faint in this struggle but be armed with the information to have an understanding it's a battlefield that we're in will we be salt and light these are two things that every believer ought to have the heart to be salt as in preservation and light as in exposing as in shining declaring the right and the truth the blazing light of god in a world of darkness we've got desperate need to understand the times i put to you today realize the times that we're living in and don't be afraid to be bold to speak out the truth confront where you can this hostility towards christians let's be a flood of light in our community in a world full of confused so-called values we really need understanding an understanding of the times we're living in that the times that we're living in the days that we're living in are evil we should be understanding the times we should be understanding the will of god what does god want us to do what does god want for us to know to be the will of god to understand it how do we get that learn it try to be more biblical try to increase your study get a good study bible get some good material

[46:35]  you know i've got books you can borrow at home we're glad to open my library to anyone who wants to borrow some books or we've got great books on store here friends we've got to get the word into our mind we've got to get good material good training good material good study material that we can grow and increase that understanding that godly understanding that biblical understanding and then not only the biblical understanding but the biblical application of it of biblical truth let us pray lord we ask you to be glorified in us we know these days are evil help us to be understanding of the times help us to be courageous to stand solid marching together under your banner wholehearted to make you king king of kings and lord of lords lord that we can we can say yes i belong to jesus i belong to you king of kings lord of lords i'm yours and lord help us to be understanding of your will and to do it lord to know your purpose your mission your assignment that you've called us to that we can fulfill it lord help us redeem the time to be wise to foster that biblical knowledge and understanding that must arm us for these days ahead we pray each one might know that personal trust that you are our king that we are your humble loyal subjects lord and not only so but we made your sons and daughters by faith because of your grace lord we thank you work in us lord help us to be a light shining people to shine that light that flood of light that this world desperately needs lord we pray for a god sent awakening in your church here and in other churches lord let there be an awakening lord that we will know and understand and do your will we praise you lord in jesus precious name amen and