Hello, welcome to our broadcast. It's called Plain and Simple, where you're on the subject, learn to discern. Stay tuned for our second in this series. In our last broadcast, we were looking at the condition that Israel was in at the time of apostasy, and they were in a condition of apostasy because of the fact that they were not listening to God. We saw their condition. We saw a charge to them from God. He said, come now, let us reason together. If you will do that, I'll straighten things out for you. If you don't, you're going to go into serious trouble. And then we looked at the cause of Israel's apostasy and we saw in Isaiah chapter 1 and verse 23 the Bible says that princes are rebellious because they judge not. They don't discern what is right and they don't discern what is wrong. In Isaiah 5 and verse number 13 it says, therefore my people are gone into captivity because they have no knowledge and their honorable men are famished. That is, Their leadership is famished. Isaiah 5 and 20 says, Woe unto them that call evil good and good evil. Woe unto them. They don't know any different. And in Isaiah 5 and 20 we read, Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes and prudent in their own sight. To be prudent is to show care. And all they cared about was what was in their own sight. Never mind how God sees things. They're just going to do that which is right in their own eyes. Well, we saw that Isaiah 1 and 9 also says there is a small remnant. In fact, he says a very small remnant, except the Lord of Hosts had left unto us a very small remnant. We should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah. So we have to face the fact. In our present day, we have seen that these things are written for our admonition upon whom the ends of the world are come, and we need to be admonished. It's written there so we would be warned about what would happen at the end of the age. What about our condition? Well it says in 2 Timothy 3, verse number 1, This know also that in the last days perilous times shall come. This know, this understand, discern this, know what's going on. He said perilous times shall come. Now he's writing this to the pastor, to Timothy at the Church of Ephesus, And he's talking about perilous times in the church. There's always been perilous times in the world. Go all the way back and check with Noah if you want to, and everybody from then until now. The world, there's always been perilous times. The word means hard to do. But when we get to the end of the age, you're going to find hard to do times in the church. And so he said in 2 Thessalonians 2, 3, he said, let no man deceive you. The Bible says, Jesus said in Matthew 24, at the end of the age, there's going to be a lot of deception. Paul said, let no man deceive you by any means, for that day shall not come except there come a falling away first. It's talking about the tribulation period and it's not going to come until there comes a falling away. Now that Greek word is spelled A-P-O-S-T-A-S-I-A, apostasia. It's very close to what we call apostasy today and that's where we get the word. And so the Bible warns us that at the end of the age We're going to be in an age of apostasy. Apostasy is when those who name the name of Christ simply turn their backs on what he teaches and don't do it anymore. We're living there right now. So we need to face the facts. Now there's three basic things that we need to understand here. One is the condition of the world. Second is the condition of the Christian. And third is the condition of that remnant that he talks about, that very small remnant. So we have the condition of the world. Look around. One word will describe it. That is anarchy. Anarchy is a state of disorder due to absence or non-recognition of authority. We have the same thing in our churches today, the state of disorder due to the absence or the non-recognition of authority. Everybody doing that which is right in their own eyes. Well, what about the condition of the average Christian? Well, the Bible says that there would be an age of apostasy. Apostasy, again, is the rejection of a religious belief. You take what we call fundamentalism and look at what we had ten years ago and look at what we have today, and you will find that there is a rejection of what we used to believe. And in recent years, even what we call the fundamental movement, there is obviously a rejection of what we used to believe. In the 1960s, everyone preached the truth. Thus saith the Lord. Now if someone does that, he's accused of the fundamentalists themselves of having a bad spirit. No, we are living in an age when apostasy prevails, and it prevails within what we call the fundamental movement. So, we have anarchy in the world, we have apostasy amongst the Christians, but then God said that we would also have a remnant. Now, what we need to be careful of as far as the remnant, those who really want to do the will of God, what the devil is going to do is attack those people with apathy. Apathy is the lack of interest or enthusiasm or concern. Other things become more important than the things of God, even to the remnant. Now, it's very simple. We will give our time to what is important to us. Now, let's go back and think again about Israel. Face the future, because if our future is going to be like Israel's future, we better learn a lesson. If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat of the good of the land." But they were not willing, they were not obedient, and he said, if you do that, if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured with the sword. And there we are today. We're just rebelling against what we know. We're rebelling against the truth. And now I want to emphasize again that these things are written for our admonition. These Old Testament stories are there for a warning. Now what does it say in 1 Chronicles 12 and verse number 32? It says the children of Issachar were men that had understanding of the times. Let me say that again. They were men that had understanding of the times to know what Israel ought to do. And the Bible tells us that there was 200 of them. Well what was the condition of Israel at the time as far as their military stuff is concerned? Well in 1 Chronicles chapter 12 it says they had men and they had machinery. Verse number 1 said they had mighty men, helpers of war. Number 2, they were armed with bows. They used both the right and left hand. They really knew how to use these bows and arrows. In verse number 14, it talked about different hosts, some that were over a hundred and some greater than a thousand. We get to verse 23 and it says they were ready, they were armed for war. Verse 24 said they had shields and spears, 6,800 ready and armed for war. Verse 24 goes on to mention they had mighty men of valor for war, 7,100. Verse 25, they had mighty men of valor for war, 7,100. Then we get to 26, they had another 4,600. We get to verse 27, there were 3,700. Then in 28 it says they had a young man who was a mighty and valor in war and he had twenty and two captains under him and then in verse number twenty nine talks about another three thousand, verse thirty Ephraim had twenty thousand eight hundred men of valor and they were famous men, men who really knew how to head up the battle. Verse thirty one talks about another eighteen thousand men ready to fight and verse thirty three they had all experts of war, all the instruments of war, fifty thousand which could keep rank They were not of a double heart. Wow, that sounds like a pretty good group of people. We're not done. Verse 34, there's another thousand captains with shields and spears and 37,000 people under them. And then in verse 35, it talks about those who were expert in war, 28,600. And then in verse 36, it talks more who went forth to battle, experts in the war, 40,000 of them. Verse 37, they had all manner of instruments of war for the battle. goes on to mention 120,000 more. Verse 38, all these men of war that could keep rank came with a perfect heart. They were of one heart. Wow, we can take on a whole world with a group like this. Well, they're ready to battle. And we read in Isaiah 13 and 1 that David consulted with the captain of thousands and hundreds and with those leaders. What about consulting with that little group who had understanding of what Israel ought to do at this time? Oh, he didn't bother to do that, insignificant little group. No, they were the ones that had understanding. And so we read in Isaiah chapter 13 and verse number 3, David said, let us bring again the ark of our God to us. Well, that's all we need now. Let's just get the ark. But we read that they carried the ark of God on a new cart, on a new cart. And so as they were coming along, they were having such a wonderful time and it says they all played before God and they were singing and they had their harps and their psalteries and their timbrels and their cymbals and their trumpets and they were just having a wonderful time. But what happened? Well, we read they came to the threshing floor. And Uzzah put forth his hand to hold the ark because the oxen stumbled and Uzzah touched that ark and God said, that's it. We read in verse number 10, the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah and he smote him and we find him laying dead on the road beside the ark. What does happen next? Isaiah chapter 13 verse 11 says, David was displeased. What are you doing, God, ruining my big day? I'm having a great thing. Don't you know we're all singing? We've got a big crowd. Everything's wonderful. No, everything is not wonderful. You've got a dead man beside the ark on the ground there because you did not check with those who had an understanding of the times to know what you ought to be doing at this time. David, we read later, was afraid and he said, how shall I bring the ark home to God? Well, here's a good idea. Just check with those who know what to do. Well, there never has been a time in the history of the New Testament church when we need to learn to discern like we do today. The Bible says in Hebrews 5 and verse number 14, but strong meat belongs to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. Now this is very important. Hebrews 5 and 14 says that we have to have our senses exercised to discern both good and evil. We're not going to get it just sitting around watching television. Now, we need to understand, first of all, the fact, we need to face the fact that we are living in an age of apostasy. The Bible warns us in 2 Timothy 3, 1, this know also, that in the last days perilous times, or hard to do times, will come, and they're here. Jesus said in Luke 18 and 8, when the Son of Man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth. Now, what is he talking about here in this word faith? It is very important to understand that when we're talking about faith in the Bible, the word means trust only five times. Just five times it means trust. The rest of the time that you see it there, it's talking about what we believe, the faith of one who is a Christian. Now the phrase, your faith, is in the Bible 24 times, at least in the New Testament. It's first mentioned in Matthew 9 and 29, And Jesus said, according to your faith, be it unto you. According to what you believe, be it unto you. The last mention of faith was by Peter in 2 Peter 1 and 5, and he said we need to be adding to what we believe. Add to your faith. That is, we need to be in the Word of God, and let the Word of God get in us, and be constantly adding to what we believe. Now, he said, Christ said, when he returns, when the Son of Man comes, shall he find faith on the earth? That is, will he find people who still believe what they used to believe? Will they find people who believe the Bible, the doctrine, the teaching? Now I think you'll find a lot of people who believe whatever they get taught on television, but how many people are getting into the Word of God and letting the Word of God get into them? The Bible says, Jesus said, when I come back, shall I find faith on the earth. Now, he said to his disciples in Matthew 7 and 13, we have this phrase, few there be that find it. Another misunderstood portion of the word of God. Let me read it to you. Matthew 7 and 13 says, enter ye in at the straight gate, for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat, because straight is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." Now, it would be a great day for the cause of Christ when we all put our commentaries away and study the Bible and compare Scripture with Scripture. These verses have absolutely nothing to do with anybody going to heaven or hell. Nothing. He is on the mountain, He is talking to His disciples, and He is only talking to His disciples, no one else. In our next broadcast, we'll look at this closer. He is talking about those few Christians who will walk the narrow way. Well, there it is, plain and simple. We'll study it some more in our next broadcast. Be sure to tune in when we learn to discern. You