Sunday Sermon by Pastor Rajesh Mathew, CORNERSTONE CHURCH, 12-7-2020

1 Chronicles 12:32- of the sons of Issachar who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, their chiefs were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their command;

• God is saying- God is rising up a favoured generation.
• God is watching you and that is why you are listening to this Word. Even if you listen to a part of it, you will experience a powerful presence of God coming upon you and you will have an inner conviction that you belong to a generation that is favoured of the Lord. You will know that you belong to Jesus Christ and are one who carries a special anointing. A generation that discerns the times.
• Issachar was a man that had the understanding of the times and they knew what to do.

1 Chronicles 12:23- Now these were the numbers of the [a]divisions that were equipped for war, and came to David at Hebron to turn over the kingdom of Saul to him, according to the word of the Lord:

• God anointed David but not everybody had accepted him as the king. He was King only over the tribe of Judah though he was anointed to be King over all of Israel. People from all 12 tribes came to David to support him in the battle.

Verse 24-32- of the sons of Judah bearing shield and spear, six thousand eight hundred [g]armed for war; 25 of the sons of Simeon, mighty men of valor fit for war, seven thousand one hundred; of the sons of Levi four thousand six undred; 27 Jehoiada, the leader of the Aaronites, and with him three thousand seven hundred; 28 Zadok, a young man, a valiant warrior, and from his father’s house twenty-two captains; 29 of the sons of Benjamin, relatives of Saul, three thousand (until then the greatest part of them had remained loyal to the house of Saul); 30 of the sons of Ephraim twenty thousand eight hundred, mighty men of valor, [c]famous men throughout their father’s house; of the half-tribe of Manasseh eighteen thousand, who were designated by name to come and make David king; 32 of the sons of Issachar who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, their chiefs were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their command;

• When you read this, you see so many big numbers were there from other tribes but when it came to Issachar there were only 200 people. The fewest people from this tribe which means that they had and knew something that the other tribes did not have or know.
• They knew that it was David’s time to become King. They knew who was anointed by God. These 200 people became chiefs and began to command every other tribe.

The generation that the Lord rises up may be few but they will be the ones who will stand in authority, wisdom and command others.

• Their (Issachar’s) brethren were at their commandment.

God is saying this about the generation that is favoured of the Lord:

➢ A generation that won’t be intimidated but that which will intimidate intimidation. ➢ A generation that will discourage discouragement ➢ A generation that cannot be stopped ➢ A generation that is loaded with God’s Word ➢ A generation that will make an impact in the Kingdom of God (not that we are arrogant

but we are humble and understand that by HIS favour, mercy & by His Holy Spirit, the Lord is shaping us to be impact makers) ➢ A generation that will not cry even in the pit ➢ A generation that worships in the prison ➢ A generation that will stand in the faith even in the midst of COVID 19 ➢ A generation that can break off all works, thoughts and attacks of the enemy ➢ • You are DIFFERENT with a capital D. You are more than a conqueror. He has given you

all the authority over the works of the enemy!

• You are victorious in Christ. You are bought by the precious Blood of Jesus. It is not futile that you believe the Word, worship Him, and give unto the Lord.
• God is training you for these days.
• Just like the tribe of Issachar God is rising you up to glorify the name of Jesus.

Certain spiritual commandos are rising up tonight. Continent shakers, walking in authority to change communities, to scare the devil.

➢ PRESENT: In Luke 10, Jesus gave authority to 70 people. They came back running and

excited and said that even the demons fled when they spoke. It was their testimony. ➢ PAST: Jesus said, I saw the devil fall like lightning on the earth. ➢ FUTURE: In Luke 10, 19, Jesus says I will give you authority to trample over snakes and

scorpions and over all the power of the enemy.

• Jesus spoke of the past and the disciples declared heir present testimony and Jesus gave us a promise for the future.
• Your times of defeat and failure are over! Days where you will bow your knees before others is over. Every power of Haman is broken.
• People who have authority are those who have gone through certain stuff in their lives. They know that it is their season to be blessed. How do they know? Because they have gone through several seasons in the past. They have gone through the valley of death, season of failures, a season of planting, the season of dying (like the grain of wheat).

SEASONS SOW DIE SPROUT UP PRUNE

There are seasons. Many of you have felt that you will never see anything and you felt it is almost over! There is another season. The third season. It is the season where we shall sprout out and we shall bear fruit.

• There is a season of pruning too. This is the season where you are pruned so you can be more fruitful.
• In your dying season may have come, but your season of celebration also will come. “Though I walk through the valley of shadow of death: - This is a season where there isn’t much progress. It is a season where you can’t even run. In the midst of that, don’t be discouraged, your season will change,

Like Issachar it is the season where God will favour you. It is the time that you will soar and reveal God’s glory through you.

• There is a season when the devil tried to destroy, betray you and isolate you. But it doesn’t end there. The season is going to change. Issachar knew the seasons

Have a Holy Spirit understanding of the times. It is your experience in the valley that will get you excited on the mountain top

• Certain wrong relationships needs to be broken and destroyed so that the fruit can come out. Declare that I am going to be more fruitful

You cannot have an understanding of the times if you have not been through all seasons. But there is a moment in the spiritual realm where God changes everything.

• Job says, though I am tested with fire, I shall come forth as gold.

One thing I have realised- the devil will never attack someone who doesn’t carry greatness, or an assignment from God or a calling from God.

• If you are facing one battle after the other, it is because God has kept something great for you. God has kept some assignment, a job and a mandate through you. Greater the struggle, mightier the triumph!

You cannot have a message until you have been in a mess. How can you triumph if you have not been tried?!

The fact that you have gone low doesn’t mean that you can’t come up.

• Rahab entered the genealogy of Christ. A shepherd boy David was made into a king. Fishermen became apostles. A murderer Moses becomes a deliverer of a nation.

It doesn’t matter how low you have Gone, God can still raise you up higher.

• Have an understanding of the times!

THE QUALITIES OF ISSACHAR:

1) HE WAS A AMAN OF THE TENT

Deuteronomy 33:18-19- Rejoice, Zebulun, in your going out, And Issachar in your tents! 19 They shall call the peoples to the mountain; There they shall offer sacrifices of righteousness; For they shall partake of the abundance of the seas And of treasures hidden in the sand.”

Tent in the Bible is the place where you study the Word of God.

Genesis 25:27- So the boys grew. And Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field; but Jacob was a [a]mild man, dwelling in tents.

• Jacob was in the tent.
• Will you get your daughter married to an adventurous man or a mama’s boy? Jacob was a plain man and did not have any skills. But he was blessed in the place of his dwelling. He was with his mother in the tent.
• Rebekah, in the tent, kept reading the Torah to Jacob. The tent is a place of learning the scriptures. Like in the New Testament, Mary who sat at HIS feet gearing His Word.
• Esau was trying to find something on his own strength.
• No flour, no Torah—in your life! Flour is what you need for your sustenance. If you are continually worried about your sustenance, how will you have time to read the Word? Don’t worry about these things, God knows that you need to pay fees, need to pay off EMI, rents, job losses etc? God knows!

1 Peter 5:7- Cast all your cares upon Him for He cares for you.

• In the Jewish tradition, from the age of 6, children are trained in the Torah. Our God is a God of covenant.
• Rebekah must have been teaching Jacob all about how God has blessed Abraham. She must have taught him that it wasn’t all the hunting, the running around doing things but the power of the birth right that is important. What you need is the blessing!

Genesis 43:33- And they sat before him, the firstborn according to his birthright and the youngest according to his youth; and the men looked in astonishment at one another

• They were made to sit according to the birth right. If you walk with Jesus, He will provide you everything you and your children need
• Tent is a place where you learn from the Word of God.

2) HE REALISED GOD WILL ALWAYS USE IMPERFECT PEOPLE

• God fulfils His perfect will through imperfect people.
• How did the birth of this man Issachar take place?

Genesis 30:14-17- 14 Now Reuben went in the days of wheat harvest and found mandrakes in the field, and brought them to his mother Leah. Then Rachel said to Leah, “Please give me some of your son’s mandrakes.” 15 But she said to her, “Is it a small matter that you have taken away my husband? Would you take away my son’s mandrakes also?” And Rachel said, “Therefore he will lie with you tonight for your son’s mandrakes.” 16 When Jacob came out of the field in the evening, Leah went out to meet him and said, “You must come in to me, for I have surely hired you with my son’s mandrakes.” And he lay with her that night. 17 And God listened to Leah, and she conceived and bore Jacob a fifth son.

• Issachar means a man taken on hire. He was hired by mandrakes
• Issachar’s past was rather insignificant---known as a man taken on hire. What a shameful thing it may have been!
• But you can let go off your past and rise above. God’s favour will help you.
• Issachar realised that God was able to make him a man who is of use to God.

It doesn’t matter what your past is. God will bless you and change you into a person of authority

• Our cars have windshield. It is a bigger glass to see ahead. But a rear view mirror a small one. We need to move forward.

What is ahead of you is bigger! There can never be a better yesterday for a child of God.

Proverbs 4:18 (NLT)- The way of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, which shines ever brighter until the full light of day.

• Early morning light is dim but the light ahead in the day is far brighter.
• Don’t be weakened by your past failures and weaknesses. Step into the future by faith and heavens are open for you. God will descend for you.
• I have good future. Your marriage, your children- they have a better tomorrow

3) HE WAS AS STUBBORN AS A DONKEY

Genesis 49:14- “Issachar is a sturdy donkey, resting between two saddle packs.

• His father calls him a donkey! “You are a raw bone donkey”. It isn’t negative.
• As sly as a fox. As hungry as a bear. Stubborn like a donkey!

The King of Zion is coming on a donkey. You are humble but you are a strong donkey. It refers to someone with a strong character. In a morally weak society you are strong character- This is a prophecy over someone.

• You are not weak. You are strong in the midst of group that walk weak in this world.
• You are strongest of the strong. Stubborn here means that you have an inner conviction. You will stand by it! You are stubborn in a good way.
• You will align yourself with the Word of God. You are certain and you stick to your convictions.

God is rising a favoured generation that acts like a moral compass. Holiness, prayer and full of conviction like a strong donkey. You won’t walk confused but you will be strong in the Lord.

• Let a conviction in God’s Word enter your heart today.

4) HE HAD A TOTAL DEPENDANCE ON GOD

Genesis 49:14- “Issachar is a strong donkey, Lying down between two burdens;

• The sheep are most at peace when the shepherd is around. They have the comfort that MY shepherd will look after me; it is OK, I can rest and I can be comforted because my shepherd is with me. I can just take refuge in Him.
• The sheep lie down only when the shepherd is around. Jesus is the shepherd of your soul.

The Lord is saying to somebody: there is a peace that only the Holy Spirit of God can give. Let that burden and tension leave your life. Cast all your cares upon the Lord. That means put down your burden at His feet. The Lord Jesus will watch over you.

5) HE WAS A BURDEN BEARER FOR OTHERS

Genesis 49:15- He saw that rest was good, And that the land was pleasant; He bowed his shoulder to bear a burden, And became a band of slaves.

• When you realise that the Lord has chosen you, you will not be proud but you will be willing to serve.
• When Issachar saw that the land was good, he became a burden bearer for others.
• You can carry another’s burden, you have the testimony of Christ like that of a Good Samaritan.

God is raising certain people who will pick others up and will carry others’ burdens. They will have a willingness to serve.

• The Church is not a club. It is a spiritual hospital. The people next to you are people who are wounded, hurt. Church is a place where you can lift them up in prayer and give them a hand, do good to them.
• The tribe of Issachar tribe was like this, The Lord is rising some people like that amidst us.

6) HE WAS FAITHFUL IN TOUGH TIMES

• He was ready to be faithful in the tough times. COVID-19 is a difficult time but even in the midst of it, he submitted himself into forced labour.
• Bile scholars say that the descendants of Issachar were forced to do things that they did not want to do. But they surrendered to God. They never asked “why me?!” They submitted.

Issachar was not a tribe that was clueless. They were neither glue-less nor clueless.

• They knew that they had to stand with David and there would be some challenges.
• It is not very easy to walk with Christ especially in these times but we will stand with Him.

7) HE WAS READY TO STAND WITH WHO GOD HAD CALLED AND ANOINTED

Deuteronomy 33:18-19- Rejoice, Zebulun, in your going out, And Issachar in your tents! 19 They shall call the peoples to the mountain; There they shall offer sacrifices of righteousness; For they shall partake of the abundance of the seas And of treasures hidden in the sand.”

• 71% world is water. Seas are deep. They found the worldly riches (from the sea)

Mathew 13:44- gain, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

• The kingdom of God is wealth. It is a treasure.
• Issachar found the treasure (Christ).
• Underwater is most unexplored. If you are a child of God, you will suck in the great riches of the deep. Get your spiritual straw ready by faith. The abundance of the sea.

Judges 5:15- And [a]the princes of Issachar were with Deborah; As Issachar, so was Barak Sent into the valley [b]under his command; Among the divisions of Reuben There were great resolves of heart.

• Somewhere along the line, the donkey became a judge
• The tribe of Issachar stood with Deborah and Barak. Issachar discerned. They understood who God was raising up. They said, “Deborah we are with you. Barak we are with you”.

God is giving such a discernment to stand with the move of the Holy Spirit, with the men of God.

• May the Lord change your level. 200 people outweighed 5000 people. They became commanders.
• They became a favoured generation/ the church of Christ will command the nations, the nations of the world and the cities of this nation. There is an Issachar generation filled with the anointing of the Holy Spirit.