February 2008

 

 

“It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own 
power.”

Acts 1:7

Some people are naturally inquisitive. They pry into everything and seek to answer every 
question. Jesus has followers who are seeking to find out answers. These early disciples 
were interested to find out the prophetic timetable. They wanted Jesus to clue them in on 
the secret of God’s timing for the restoration of the kingdom to Israel. They were sincere 
in their question. They were asking the right person. Very likely they expected Jesus to 
name a date and tell them what signs would come to signal them of the event. But Jesus 
answered them in a way that went to the heart of an issue they probably weren’t even 
thinking about. Many times what is on your heart is not what Jesus addresses directly at all
. There is something more pressing to deal with that he sees and he will address that 
instead. So they did not find out the timing of God’s schedule of events for the prophecies
to be fulfilled. They were informed instead that it is not for you to know these matters. 
They belong to the Father and remain securely in his own power. His authority extends to 
the matter of fulfilling his promises. He knows when the perfect time to do that is. It was 
their part to be filled with the Holy Spirit and to be witnesses to Jesus Christ beginning 
where they were and extending outward to the uttermost part of the earth. He turned their 
focus on something that had everything to do with the extension of God’s kingdom without 
giving them any idea of the timing of God’s prophetic purposes. 

Some people are curious to discover the secrets to God’s prophetic timetable. They make 
charts and tables and do calculations. They study diligently and seek to figure out the 
trajectory of current events and how they figure in to God’s Word. The information 
gathered can be voluminous and confusing. Some are skilled at putting together plausible 
explanations for the supposed connections between biblical prophecy and the news of the 
days we live in and the future that is immanent. Movies, books, lectures and seminars are 
conducted. Yet Jesus’ Word comes to this generation for all who would pry into such matters 
– ‘It is not for you to know the times or the seasons…’ 

This is at the beginning of the greatest movement of the Holy Spirit in history up to that 
point. The entire book of Acts can be seen as the outworking of this foundational principle.
 When the disciples of Jesus are focused on witnessing in the power of the Holy Spirit to 
Jesus Christ in the surrounding darkness the kingdom of God will be extended and God’s 
prophetic purposes will be fulfilled in his own time and way. Rather than follow the path of
 curiosity and spend time and resources prying into such matters as the timing of prophetic 
events, let’s follow the course outlined by our Savior in his perfect wisdom. He told us 
that such matters were not our business. There is a direct parallel with Deut. 29:29 – ‘The
secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto
 us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.’ The pressing 
issue for us still today is to be filled with the Holy Spirit and to bear witness to a lost 
world of Jesus Christ, the only Savior and Redeemer for needy sinners. He alone can deliver 
those bound in sin and darkness. His gospel has power to save. Let’s proclaim it with energy
 and enthusiasm and wisdom and love. Let’s spend ourselves on what will produce fruit and 
bring honor and pleasure to the heart of God. Trust God to take care of those matters he has
 kept safely in his own power. He knows what he’s doing no matter what happens to us. 

 

 

Your pastor witnessing to Jesus Christ,

 

Ed Sager