Tag: day or hour
Stay awake!
Scripture reading for February 3rd: Mark 13
Key Scriptures: Mark 13: 32-37 “But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake. Therefore stay awake–for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake!”“
Sleep is necessary for our bodies but Jesus was not talking about physical sleep. He was calling His disciples and followers throughout the ages to recognize the spiritual warfare of the end times and the fact that only the Father knows when the last day and hour before the final judgment is. God has given His servants work to do in His absence. Each believer is assigned gifts and talents and responsibilities. Those who are watchmen must stay awake spiritually because the Church will not be caught unaware. No matter when Jesus returns, His Bride will be ready. Jesus reminded the disciples and all: “Stay awake!”
Song of Songs 5:2 “I slept, but my heart was awake. A sound! My beloved is knocking. “Open to me, . . .”
Faith confession and prayer: Lord, I may sleep naturally, but my heart is awakened to You knocking! I don’t know the day or the hour, but I know You are coming for Your Bride! May I be watchful and help others to be ready.
Revelation 16:15 Jesus: “(Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed!”)
Give God no rest!
Scripture reading for January 20th: Genesis 32-34, Mark 13, Psalm 145
Key Scriptures: Mark 13:31-33 “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My Words will not pass away. But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come.”
Genesis 32:24-28 “And Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day. When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched his hip socket, and Jacob’s hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. Then he said, “Let me go, for the day has broken.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” And he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” Then he said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed.””
Jacob was afraid of his coming meeting with Esau. He prayed for God’s help and favor but stayed up all night in a wrestling match with a ‘man’ who later was found to be God or an angel representing God. He did not sleep but kept alert in prevailing prayer. Jesus said that that was to be the posture of His disciples concerning His return in power and glory.
Faith Confession and prayer: Father, thank You for the examples and warnings of Scripture concerning the need for Your people to remain alert and ready, even wrestling to lay hold of the promised blessings. Keep me in Your Word and the power of the Holy Spirit so I might prevail!
Psalm 145:14 “The Lord upholds all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down.”
No one knows the day or hour!
Scripture reading for March 7th: Mark 13:14-37, Psalms 50:1-23, Proverbs 10:29-30
Mark’s account of Jesus’ teaching as they left the temple emphasized the need to be watchful in the last days. Jesus was asked by Peter, James, John and Andrew to explain when the temple would be torn down and the sign that these things would be fulfilled. (Mark 13:1-3) They were interested in understanding when the massive stones in the temple would be torn down and what things would precede that happening.
“Jesus said to them: “Watch out that no one deceives you. Many will come in My name claiming ‘I am He,’ and will deceive many. When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen but the end is still to come.” (Mark 13:5-7) The first thing to watch out for was deception. The last days would be marked by false teachers and people claiming to be “Christ”. They would draw people after them who would be deceived. They would be gullible because they had never been born again and received the true Christ. They had never repented of sins and obtained Christ’s cleansing mercy through faith.
“Heaven and earth will pass away, but My word will never pass away. No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard! Be alert! You don’t know when that time will come.”(Mark 13:32-33) God has warned His people by His word, which will never pass away or change. Part of the deception would be people or religions that set the time of Christ’s coming. The Jehovah’s Witnesses have set the time of Jesus’ coming at least four times and been wrong. Many have been disillusioned by the setting of dates.
In fact, Jesus said that even He did not know the day or the hour, only the Father knew that timing! In other words, the end could come “in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. If He comes suddenly, do not let Him find you sleeping. What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!'” (Mark 13:35b-37) The best thing we can do is be ready regardless of when it might be. Worry is a sin, but watchfulness is obedience to Christ! Jesus is coming back! We must prepare and watch out!
The day of the Lord is near!
Scripture reading for August 24th: Ezekiel 29-32
One of the bad habits that Israel had developed was a dependence on Egypt for help. After Moses led them out of Egypt by God’s powerful hand, they talked of stoning him and choosing a new leader who would take them back. They easily forgot that Egypt was a land of slavery and God had called them out of there. Even after Babylon had conquered the nation of Israel, a remnant left there in Israel chose to go down to Egypt for protection against the advice of Jeremiah. (Jeremiah 42:19-22) (Jeremiah 43:7) In Ezekiel 29 God gave Ezekiel a prophetic word concerning Egypt and Pharaoh. God warned that their pride would bring judgment and defeat. God was bringing a sword against them that would leave the land of Egypt desolate for forty years. (Ezekiel 29:8-12) After forty years, God would bring a remnant of Egyptians back and they would be a lowly kingdom. Israel was to learn not to rely on Egypt ever again and that the Lord was sovereign over nations. (Ezekiel 29:16)
The prophet Ezekiel announced that the day of the Lord was near. That day would be a day of clouds and darkness. It would be a day of doom for the nations that Ezekiel had spoken about. A sword would arise from Babylon that would bring destruction on Egypt and her surrounding friends. (Ezekiel 30:1-4) This “day of the Lord” came to these people during the lifetime of Ezekiel. Egypt went into captivity; Israel, Cush, and Tyre were destroyed as well.
When we hear the message about the “day of the Lord” and “the end”, we tend to think they are a long way off. We believe that they apply to a distant time, possibly be thousands of years away and surely not in our lifetime. However, we should be living as if today was the day! We are told to live in readiness for Christ’s return. (Matthew 22:42-44) We are told that no one will know the day or hour, but that we should be watchful and prepared. (Matthew 24:36) For those who are ready by faith in Jesus Christ, it will be a day of joy and gladness. For those who experience this day outside of God’s mercy, it will be darkness, trouble and doom. The ‘Day of the Lord’ is nearer today than yesterday! Are you ready?
No one knows the day or hour!
Scripture reading for March 7th: Mark 13:14-37, Psalms 50:1-23, Proverbs 10:29-30
Mark’s account of Jesus teaching as they left the temple emphasizes the need to be watchful in the last days. Jesus was asked by Peter, James, John and Andrew to explain when the temple would be torn down and the sign that these things would be fulfilled. (Mark 13:1-3) They were interested in understanding when the massive stones in the temple would be torn down and what things would mark that happening.
“Jesus said to them: “Watch out that no one deceives you. Many will come in My name claiming ‘I am He,’ and will deceive many. When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen but the end is still to come.” (Mark 13:5-7) The first thing to watch out for was deception. The last days would be marked by false teachers and people claiming to be “Christ”. They would draw people after them who would be deceived. They are gullible because they have never been born again and received the true Christ. They had never repented of sins and obtained Christ’s cleansing mercy through faith.
“Heaven and earth will pass away, but My word will never pass away. No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard! Be alert! You don’t know when that time will come.” God has warned His people by His word which will never pass away or change. Part of the deception will be people or religions that set the time of Christ’s coming. The Jehovah’s Witnesses have set the time of Jesus’ coming at least 4 times and been wrong each time. Many have been disillusioned by the setting of dates.
In fact, Jesus said that even He did not know the day or the hour, only the Father knew that timing! In other words, the end could come “in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. If He comes suddenly, do not let Him find you sleeping. What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!'” (Mark 13:35b-37) The best thing we can do is be ready regardless of when it might be. Worry is a sin, but watchfulness is obedience to Christ! Jesus is coming back! We must prepare and watch out!