God has always wanted His people to understand the days in which they were living—so that they can act accordingly, with a faith response and in alignment with His will. Like the sons of Issachar mentioned in 1 Chronicles 12:32, God wants us to understand the times and have the knowledge we need to walk by faith. God’s desire to reveal His plan is seen throughout the Word in all the ways He has spoken to mankind.
1. God Speaks Through Prophets
In the Old Testament, for example, He often accomplished this by speaking through His prophets or sending angels to deliver messages. Amos 3:7 tells us, “Indeed, the Sovereign LORD never does anything until he reveals his plans to his servants the prophets.”
It was the prophets calling to deliver warnings, direction and knowledge. They often spoke of what was to come—and even in the present day, God’s prophets continue to give God’s guidance. They deliver words that give us instructions, comfort, assurance and help us to know what to pray, so we pray out the will of God in the earth (Matthew 6:10).
2. God Speaks Through Angels
When Abraham and Sarah hadn’t conceived and grew past the age of childbearing, God sent angels to visit Abraham and deliver the good news that they would have a son—and a year later they did (Genesis 18). God also spoke to Abraham, warning him about the fall of Sodom. Abraham pleaded with God to spare the people, particularly his nephew Lot (Genesis 18). They had such a Covenant relationship that eventually, God called Abraham His friend: “‘Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.’ He was even called the friend of God” (James 2:23).
3. God Speaks Directly to Us
Of course, there is one man in the Old Testament who experienced the holy privilege of having God speak to him directly—Moses. God called out to him from a burning bush saying, “Moses! Moses!” And Moses answered, “Here I am!” And that’s when God gave Moses the assignment of leading the children of Israel out of Egypt and into the Promised Land (Exodus 3:1-17).
In the New Testament, Jesus was the prophet—and He told us of His death, burial, resurrection, being seated at the right hand of God and that He would return one day for His Bride, the Church (John 14:1-3; Ephesians 5:25-27).
4. God Uses Dreams and Visions To Speak To Us
Throughout the Bible, God has also used dreams, visions and words of knowledge to reveal His plans, will and instructions. It was Pharaoh, his butler and baker who had dreams—and it was Joseph who interpreted them (Genesis 40-41). It was Joseph, Jesus’ earthly father, who heard God in a dream and took Mary and Jesus to Egypt (Matthew 2:13-23). In fact, there are more than 20 references in the Scriptures of other examples like these where God spoke to people using dreams and visions.
5. The Holy Spirit Teaches Us and Helps Us
Before Jesus left this earth, He promised to send us a Helper, Someone who would tell us all the truth we needed to know. “I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you” (John 14:15-17).
John the Baptist spoke of this when he said that Jesus would baptize us with the Spirit and with fire—and it happened first in Acts 2, when the disciples were gathered in one place. “Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability” (Acts 2:2-4).
It is by praying in tongues that we pray out mysteries, which are the things hidden in God (1 Corinthians 14:2).
A Confession for Knowing the Times
God wants to reveal His will, His ways and His Word to you. He wants you to understand the times in which you live. He wants you to know what your faith response should be in these end times. Release your faith to know by declaring this confession today:
“In the Name of Jesus, I have ears to hear. I have eyes to see. I open my heart and mind to know and discern the will of God, to discern the times in which I live. I declare that I have knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom. That I have comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God, and in understanding and discernment of spiritual things. So that I may walk, live and conduct my life 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. Like the sons of Issachar were in their day, I am in mine! I understand the times and have the knowledge I need when I need it to walk by faith, each and every day. Amen.”
This confession is based on the following biblical references: Proverbs 20:12-13; Colossians 1:9-10; 1 Chronicles 12:32.