The Proverbs 31 woman listens to the Holy Spirit because He tells her the things that are to come; the why, when and how she should prepare. God gives her all that she needs, not only for the present but also for what she is to prepare for. She does not fear what is coming because she is prepared. God has told us to consider the ants and how they know what time it is and what to do in preparation.
“Learn from the ant, observe her ways and be wise. Ants have no chief, office or ruler, yet knows in summer to gather the harvest, for provision in winter.” Proverbs 6:6-8
We should always be thinking ahead and getting even little things done that can be done, so that when the time comes – we are easily prepared instead of frantically at work. We should be thinking ahead for our children and grandchildren, and not be foolish to think that we need only be concerned for the present. While in the present we have time, resources, strength and freedom – we need to think ahead as to what Jesus said was coming that will make life difficult to live.
The day when the anti-Christ will require everyone to receive his mark (chip/implant) means no one will be able to buy or sell without it. But Jesus has told His disciples not to be deceived in taking the “mark of the beast,” rather they will find what they need to survive on because of what was left behind for them by those who listened to the instructions of the Holy Spirit before they were removed from the earth; as they were called by Spirit of God to prepare provision for God’s saints living through the Great Tribulation that Jesus told us about.
“If anyone worships the beast and its image, and receives its mark on his forehead or hand, he too will drink the wine of God’s anger, poured undiluted into the cup of His wrath. And he will be tormented in fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb.” Revelation 14:9-10
God is always preparing ahead for His people, and He uses His own disciples to do the practical things in a timely way. Jesus tells us about the time of Great Tribulation; that although it is a short time it is a time on earth like no other time.
“For in those days there will be tribulation unmatched from the beginning of God’s creation until now, and never to be seen again. If the Lord had not shortened those days, nobody would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, whom He has chosen, He has shortened them.” Mark 13:19-20
We all have loved ones to think about after we’re gone whether in death or rapture; especially loved ones who will be left behind to endure the time of God’s wrath on earth called the Great Tribulation. There is a time to come when God will no longer put up with the devil’s rebellion against God’s truth, and man’s destruction of what God once called “good.”
We know that the Lord prepares for the needs of His people, we can see it in the account of how God prepared way ahead of time using young Joseph (youngest of all his brothers) to prepare provision for his family during a great famine. (Genesis 38-41) God is still preparing for His people in the future. If God has told us what is coming (and He has) then we better listen to the Holy Spirit as to what we need to do with what we have been blessed with, whether we personally live through the short time of the “Great Tribulation” or not.
A fool does not listen to a warning nor does he prepare for what is coming. He hears but he does not heed; it goes in one ear and out the other. Those who follow the voice of God’s Spirit are not caught by surprise, unprepared and feeling hopeless.
God does nothing before telling those closest to Him so they will get the word out to all His people. But like in the days of the prophets, there will be the majority of God’s people who do not believe the Lord’s prophets whom God has given His message about what is about to happen that will affect them and their children.
Proverbs 1:32-33 “For the waywardness of the naïve will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them. But he who listens to Me shall live securely and will be at ease from the dread of evil.”
The Lord’s people (Israel) didn’t discern the time of His first coming. (Luke 19:41-44) Will the churches discern the time of His second coming in making ready a people prepared for Him?
God hates the fear that men have of other men and that makes men cower down from their God-given responsibilities. God blesses and honors those who understand what He requires of them, and then faithfully get to it, no matter what comes against them.
There will be a generation of the godly who are told to faithfully prepare physically, in practical ways, for the worse time on the earth that Jesus and the prophets all foretold. What if you are that generation? It is very important that you know the time and what is both necessary and appropriate to do. Jesus told us that we won’t know the day and the hour of His second coming, but we can certainly know the generation – if we are paying attention to what’s going on and to what the Holy Spirit is saying. Do not be a fool and set a specific day that the Lord will return like so many false prophets have done. JUST BE READY!
“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.” Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
Why would God tell us to go to such extremes and severities; that there is the time to mourn, to tear down, to throw away, to hate, to go to war and even to kill? When would God approve of hatred/war/killing? Well, read what Jesus said HE WILL DO when He returns!
Jesus told us what to be prepared for; things that must happen before He returns; even things that will knock down our traditional ways of ‘churchianity.’ As we embark upon each new year it has become apparent that we just might be doing things we never thought of doing. So beware of holding on to your churchy traditions and works, and end up like the “unwise virgins.” (Matthew 25)
When you are faced with the need to make an important decision – how do you make it? How do we know when it is the right time for anything? How do we know if it is profitable to let go of something or when it is wise to hold on to something? How do we know when we should be searching or giving up? What gives you the confidence to know when it is the time to speak up or take action, or to simply shut up and stay put? Without the revelation of the Holy Spirit how can we be timely in anything? Without the Holy Spirit who can know what to be ready and prepared for? Without the strength of the Holy Spirit who can be faithful? So, are you filled with Holy Spirit?
What is it the time for when your pastor keeps silent about the Lord’s coming judgments; what to expect and prepare for that Jesus talked about? What is it the time for when your children are being taught in school that they might not be the gender they were born with? What is it the time for when you find out your husband has been unfaithful? What is it the time for when your best friend challenges your faith in Jesus Christ?
How do we know when it’s time to do something good for someone else, or when it’s the right time to be angry? How can we be angry without sinning with our anger, like the Bible instructs? What are we to do with our feelings before they turn wickedly active? Our actions will be held accountable by God, but our feelings won’t. God wants us to bring our thoughts and feelings before Him in surrender to His will – so we can then make right decisions about how we feel, and be right and timely in our actions.
All throughout the history of man God has made sure that men and women know what they need to know about His character and what He requires of them. The Word of God is not just a history book; it’s our daily food and light for our journey of faith. Jesus commands us over and over to “hear what the Holy Spirit is saying” because God’s Spirit knows when it is the time for everything that currently concerns us, and also prepares what is coming.
“A man (or woman) will be satisfied with good by the fruit of his (or her) words, and the deeds of a man’s (or woman’s) hands will return to him (or her).” Proverbs 12:14