The Sons of Isaachar

 

This is Chuck Rapp with a word of encouragement for Village Church Planters.

As I have shared in other messages, I believe that in these days God is shaking everything that can be shaken. We live in tumultuous times, and we must build our lives and our work upon the solid Foundation of Jesus Christ.

Today I would like to share with you a small portion of Old Testament scripture that has been occupying much of my recent thought life and prayer time. 1 Chronicles 12 provides an account of those who joined forces with David during the period when he was fleeing from King Saul. It’s an impressive list of mighty men and warriors. Seemingly, as almost an afterthought, the author includes in his list verse 32, “from Issachar, men who understood the times and knew what Israel should do.” [emphasis added] Isaachar, you may recall, was one of the 12 tribes of Israel; their land allotment was one of the smaller regions. Isaachar was not a prominent tribe of Israel.

Yet … these men understood the times and knew what Israel should do.

Lately I find myself praying, Lord, what is going on in our world? Help me understand! What should I do? What should we do? Can you relate to this? Have you prayed similar prayers lately?

Today, I want to encourage VCP leaders; let us seek the Lord.

· Let us corporately and individually seek the Lord asking for His insight regarding how to interpret our times. Geopolitically. Nationally. Culturally. Economically. In the Church. Regarding the pandemic. What are the threats? What are today’s opportunities?

· Then, as the Lord provides wisdom and insight into today’s events and situations, how should we respond? Let us corporately and individually seek the Lord that we might know what to do. Personally. In our families and churches. In our Village Church Planting ministries.

The good news is that the Lord wants to help us with this. We are promised in James 1:5 that “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”

May we – in these tumultuous days – both understand the times and know what we should do.

Let’s make sure that the Lord’s voice is the loudest voice in our lives and the one to which we are listening.

This has been a word of encouragement for Village Church Planters.