It is Possible to Know What God is Doing RIGHT NOW

1 Chronicles 12:32 of the sons of Issachar who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, their chiefs were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their command;

Notice that these men of Issachar didn't learn from Scripture what Israel should do; that was pretty well known already. But with Israel in transition between kings, these men knew what Israel should do RIGHT NOW. And because they had this knowledge, God's people were willing to follow them.

Notice that most of the tribe of Issachar only knew that they should follow these men, but even then, they knew what Israel should do. And notice that these leaders were making a change: the kingship had passed form the house of Saul to the house of David.

But other leaders were saying that Israel should be loyal to the house of Saul. How can you KNOW which leaders to listen to?

God Has a Time for Everything

Ecclesiastes 3:1 tells us:

"To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven:"

It helps you to realize that God has specific things that He does at specific times, but they're not always the same things. Solomon follows this statement with a list of contrasting things that God does at different times, and one of them is "A time to break down, And a time to build up;"

At different times, different organizations have been greatly used by God, and then cast aside for various reasons. It is an incredible Christian truth that the YMCA was once a powerful organization for Christ, but those days are long gone. There was a time when Methodists shook nations with powerful revivals, but those days are gone. At one time, Calvinists shook England and the US for Christ, but are now mostly sheep-stealers.

Christians who are in the right place at the right time often think that their success is due to their own Godliness, but move them to another area, and their success disappears. If you are to know what God wants you to do RIGHT NOW, remember that God is doing certain things in certain areas RIGHT NOW.

What Should You Do RIGHT NOW?

It is always God's will for you to obey His Word, and the Holy Spirit never leads a Christian to disobey Scripture. But many specific things are not mentioned in Scripture. What church should you attend? What kind of Christian service should you do? Which translation should you use? Should you volunteer at a Christian organization that you do not totally agree with?

God's Word tells us that God does certain things at certain times. Different Christian groups are greatly used by God for a time, and then find their ministries declining, while others grow. Can you know specifically what God wants you to do RIGHT NOW?

We'll be looking at how to know God's will for you, as I post twice a week to show how to know God's will for RIGHT NOW.

A Church Full of Strife

James 3:16 is one of those verses that needs some explaining.

"For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there."
"For where envy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil work."

The King James Version states: "For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work."

The word translated "envy" is literally "heat," and is used is both a good and bad sense for zeal.
The word translated "self-seeking" refers to intrigues and conflicts.
The Greek word translated "confusion" refers to tumult and disorder.

In other words, when any organization has people fighting and maneuvering to advance themselves. that organization will be filled with conflict and sin. You need to move on.

Envy and Hatred are Connected

Titus 3:3 is talking about non-Christians when it says "For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another."

But notice the connection between envy and hatred. The passage goes on to tell us how the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit changed us.

Elsewhere on the internet, there is a Christian hatesite dedicated to tearing down successful preachers and pastors. Some of their accusations are true, and there is rejoicing up and down the site every time that a man of God falls. You, as a Christian, need to remember that God has called you out of that type of conduct.

Who is Proud?

1 Timothy 6:4 he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions,

Who is "he" that this verse is talking about? The previous verses show that Paul is talking about men who urge Christians not to submit to authority. There is a connection between envy and rebellion. People who get passed over for a promotion find themselves under the authority of a colleague, and envy develops. Within churches, envy develops when certain people get prominent roles that others feel that they should have.

Submission to authority produces humility, and humility produces grace. Grace gives us the desire and ability to do God's work. Rebellion against authority produces envy and other sins.

Serving God Out of Envy

Philippians 1:15-16 Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from goodwill:
The former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my chains;

It's hard to believe that some Christians hated Paul so much that they preached Christ. Since their motive was selfish ambition, it appears that their goal was to build their own influence. Why were they in Christian work in the first place?

A Christian who wants to serve God wants a good thing. He may also be responding to grace, which gives us the desire and ability to do God's work. But then, failing to accept God's grace, he becomes bitter at someone else who has a bigger ministry.

The warning here for the saints is to turn away from envy, seeing how much harm it can do to you.