Slideshow image

The following blog is a summary of a message preached by Pastor Eddie Lawrence.

Watch Sermon HERE

There are big life questions we all ponder: Why am I here? What am I supposed to do with my life? These questions matter because there's spiritual warfare around your identity and purpose. The enemy wants you to wish you were anyone else, anywhere else, doing anything else.

But God has predetermined the boundaries of your dwelling. You are where you are for a reason, and understanding God's timing is crucial for your life.

When Religious Leaders Missed God's Timing

In Matthew 16:1-4, Jesus confronted the Pharisees and Sadducees who asked for a sign from heaven:

"When it's evening, you say it will be fair weather, for the sky is red, 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."

These religious leaders should have recognized where they were in God's timeline. They had the Scriptures, the prophecies, and the Word of God. Yet they were:

  • Blind to what God was doing
  • Dull of hearing to God's voice
  • Hard-hearted toward receiving God's message

 

They could predict the weather but couldn't discern God's activity right in front of them.

What's the difference between seeking signs and recognizing God's timing?

Jesus wasn't saying we shouldn't believe in signs. His entire ministry was marked by signs and wonders, and He promised to confirm His word with signs following.

The difference is:

  • Sign-seekers chase after supernatural validation
  • Spiritually discerning people recognize God's confirmation of what He's already doing

 

The religious leaders demanded proof while standing face-to-face with God incarnate who had already performed countless miracles. They couldn't see what was right in front of them.

How can we avoid missing what God is doing today?

We need to:

  • See more clearly
  • Hear more distinctly
  • Understand more completely
  • Align with what God is doing in our lives right now

 

Where Are We on God's Prophetic Calendar?

We are living in what Scripture calls "the last days" - a period that began at Pentecost over 2,000 years ago when Peter quoted Joel's prophecy. We are closer to Christ's return than any generation before us.

Several prophetic markers indicate where we are:

  • The re-establishment of Israel as a nation (1948)
  • Increasing natural disasters (earthquakes, floods, famines)
  • Hearts growing cold as Jesus predicted
  • Legislation becoming increasingly anti-Christian
  • Knowledge increasing exponentially (Daniel's prophecy)

 

We're in the AI era, with technology advancing at unprecedented rates. Daniel foresaw this explosion of knowledge as a sign of the end times.

What is the Holy Spirit saying to the church today?

Just as Jesus gave specific messages to the seven churches in Revelation, He continues to speak to congregations today. The message for believers now centers on:

  • Dying to self so Christ can live through us
  • When squeezed, what comes out of you reveals what's in you
  • We must respond to pressure with the likeness of Jesus
  • The crucified life releases the fragrance of Christ
  • Focusing on worship and creativity
  • God is raising up worshippers who will release His sound
  • Authentic worship becomes a fragrance that draws unbelievers
  • Recognizing God's glory is present and moving
  • God is positioning His people for a significant move
  • We must be sensitive to His timing and direction

What is the status of the Great Commission?

Jesus said in Matthew 24:14: "This gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations. And then the end will come."

Despite our technology and resources:

 

  • Over 3 billion people (nearly 40% of the world's population) have yet to hear the gospel in a meaningful way
  • Many will die without ever having one opportunity to hear about Jesus

 

The Great Commission remains our final mandate. We must build bridges to the nations and be involved in global outreach.

Where are you in relation to God's plan for your life?

If God has led you to be part of a church family, He's led you to be part of its vision. This means:

  • Being committed and faithful
  • Serving in some capacity
  • Giving of your time, talent, and treasure

 

We must stop compartmentalizing our lives. Jesus should touch every area:

  • Family
  • Work
  • Finances
  • Health
  • Hobbies

 

As Jesus said, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me."

Life Application

Like the Sons of Issachar who "understood the times and knew what Israel should do," we need discernment for our moment in history. Here are practical steps to align with God's timing:

 

  • Pray specifically: "Lord, help me discern where we are in time and what I should be doing."

 

  • Examine your priorities: Does your calendar and spending reflect that Jesus is at the center of your life?

 

  • Build community: Gather with others for fellowship, prayer, and spiritual growth.

 

  • Evaluate your response to pressure: When squeezed by circumstances, does Christ come out, or do you react in the flesh?

 

  • Consider your role in the Great Commission: How are you participating in sharing the gospel locally and globally?

 

Ask yourself: If Jesus returned today, would He find me aligned with His purposes? Am I where He wants me to be, doing what He's called me to do? What adjustments do I need to make to better discern and follow His timing?

Remember, you are where you are for a reason. Don't wish to be someone else, somewhere else, doing something else. Discover God's purpose for you in this specific time and place.