Understanding the Times and Seasons of the Lord – Part 1

There are two words the Greeks use for time and this is reflected in the New Testament:

Chronos – (used 54 times) refers to a specific amount of time, such as a day or an hour (e.g. Acts 13:18 and 27:9).

Kairos – (used 86 times in the New Testament) refers to an opportune time, a “moment” or a “season” such as “harvest time”

In many Scriptures they are used together and some they are not.

Matthew 16:1-4 NKJV Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing Him asked that He would show them a sign from heaven. (2) He answered and said to them, “When it is evening you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red’; (3) and in the morning, ‘It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times. (4) A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign shall be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.” And He left them and departed.

Matthew 8:28-29 NKJV When He had come to the other side, to the country of the Gergesenes, there met Him two demon-possessed men, coming out of the tombs, exceedingly fierce, so that no one could pass that way. (29) And suddenly they cried out, saying, “What have we to do with You, Jesus, You Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?”

Mark 13:32-37 NKJV “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. (33) Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is. (34) It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch. (35) Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming—in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning— (36) lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. (37) And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!”

Luke 1:20 NKJV But behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time.”

Acts 1:6-8 NKJV Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” (7) And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. (8) But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Romans 13:11-12 NKJV And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. (12) The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.

Galatians 6:9 NKJV And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.

Ephesians 5:15-16 AMPC Look carefully then how you walk! Live purposefully and worthily and accurately, not as the unwise and witless, but as wise (sensible, intelligent people), (16) Making the very most of the time [buying up each opportunity], because the days are evil.

1 Thessalonians 5:1-2 AMPC BUT AS to the suitable times and the precise seasons and dates, brethren, you have no necessity for anything being written to you. (2) For you yourselves know perfectly well that the day of the [return of the] Lord will come [as unexpectedly and suddenly] as a thief in the night.

The Lord is wanting His body to be spiritually attuned enough to be able to discern and follow the leading of the Holy Spirit for the Kairos that God brings into our lives.

Ephesians 5:15-17 NKJV See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, (16) redeeming the time, because the days are evil. (17) Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

Ephesians 5:15-17 NIV Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, (16) making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. (17) Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.

Ephesians 5:15-17 MSG So watch your step. Use your head. (16) Make the most of every chance you get. These are desperate times! (17) Don’t live carelessly, unthinkingly. Make sure you understand what the Master wants.

Unwise – NT:878

aphron (af’-rone); from NT:1 (as a negative particle) and NT:5424; properly, mindless, i.e. stupid, (by implication) ignorant, (specially) egotistic, (practically) rash, or (morally) unbelieving:

Understand –to make logical sense of in order to comprehend

Colossians 1:9-10 NKJV For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; (10) that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;

Colossians 1:9-10 AMPC For this reason we also, from the day we heard of it, have not ceased to pray and make [special] request for you, [asking] that you may be filled with the full (deep and clear) knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom [in comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God] and in understanding and discernment of spiritual things– (10) That you may walk (live and conduct yourselves) in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him and desiring to please Him in all things, bearing fruit in every good work and steadily growing and increasing in and by the knowledge of God [with fuller, deeper, and clearer insight, acquaintance, and recognition].

God is saying that He wants us to fully understand what His will is for our lives, clearly and specifically.

It is possible for us to know what He wants for our lives, what He desires for us and what pleases Him.

Ephesians 1:7-9 NKJV In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace (8) which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, (9) having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself,

I do not believe that God desires for us to have to seek after the knowledge of His will like an Easter egg hunt where we waste so much time trying to figure out what it is but rather just walking in it.

The will of God for us can be divided into two categories:

The general will of God that is made known unto us by His Word.

The Bible is filled with things that God tells us in His Word that are His will, His desire for our lives:

It is the will of God that we be saved, healed, delivered, and blessed.

- - It is the will of God for all men to be saved.

2 Peter 3:9 NKJV The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

- - It is the will of God for men to be healed.

John 8:29 NKJV And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.”

Acts 10:38 NKJV how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.

1 Peter 2:24 NKJV who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness–by whose stripes you were healed.

- - It is the will of God for you to prosper and increase so that you can be a greater blessing.

Galatians 3:13-14 NKJV Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE”), (14) that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

2 Corinthians 8:9 NKJV For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.

- - It is the will of God for you to have peace and live free from worry and anxiety.

Philippians 4:6-7 NKJV Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; (7) and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Isaiah 53:5 NKJV But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.

- - It is the will of God that we have love and peace in our homes and families.

The scripture is full of verses that tell us to love one another, be kind one to another.

Ephesians 4:32 NKJV And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

- - Though we all encounter tough times, and pressures in life, it is the will of God that we win and overcome every time.

2 Corinthians 2:14 NKJV (14) Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.

Romans 8:35-39 NKJV Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? (36) As it is written: “FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE KILLED ALL DAY LONG; WE ARE ACCOUNTED AS SHEEP FOR THE SLAUGHTER.” (37) Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. (38) For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, (39) nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The specific will of God for our individual lives – where do we live, where do we work, who am I supposed to marry?

Some of these questions are narrowed for us with the word of God.

We are told in the Bible that we should work and provide for our families.

1 Timothy 5:7-8 NKJV And these things command, that they may be blameless. (8) But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

We are told to not marry an unbeliever or someone that does not believe as we do.

2 Corinthians 6:14 NKJV (14) Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?

We should pursue the spiritual interests for our family and then find a job that fits accordingly.

Hebrews 10:24-25 NLT Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. (25) And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of His return is drawing near.

But even with this kind of help, there are going to be things that we will not be able to find in the Bible about our lives, yet God desires for us to know these things as much as we know the Word of God.

In the things that God has not given us direction for in His Word, He wants us to be led by His Spirit in our spirits.

We must recognize that God is interested in all of the intimate details of our lives, not just the big things.

Luke 12:7 NKJV But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.

Psalms 121:8 NIV the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.

Psalms 40:2 AMPC He drew me up out of a horrible pit [a pit of tumult and of destruction], out of the miry clay (froth and slime), and set my feet upon a rock, steadying my steps and establishing my goings.

God is interested in you being successful in every are of your life. In your business deals, in your trips to the grocery store, on your job…

Before God can direct our paths, we must first be willing to acknowledge Him in every area of our lives.

Proverbs 3:6 AMPC In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths.

Let’s establish three things in this:

You are a spirit, you have a soul, and you live in a body.

1 Thessalonians 5:23 NKJV (23) Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

When you received Jesus, you were recreated, made brand new in your spirit.

2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV (17) Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

God lives in you.

1 John 4:15 NKJV Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.

Your recreated spirit is a safe guide for you to follow, but how?

Rom 8:1616 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: KJV

The Holy Spirit bears witness in our spirits that we are the children of God. If He will bear witness in our spirits about being Born Again, then surely He will bear witness about all of our lives.

Heb 12:1414 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

When you are facing a decision in life, follow after or pursue the peace in your spirit that comes from God.

If it is not the right decision, there will be an agitation, or uneasiness in your heart and no peace.

Don’t ever let anyone pressure you into a decision in life, until you know for sure whether there is a peace or not, inside you.

Walk away until you know that you know.