Author: Mark Jerde

Oh, Really? Only the Father Knows the Day and the Hour?

I hear this verse a lot.

“But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.”
Matthew 24:36 ESV

That was true when it was spoken, around A.D. 30, but I don’t believe it is true anymore. Of course, I could be wrong. But consider this verse, written after Jesus rose from the dead and ascended into heaven.

The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:
Revelation 1:1 KJV

The “Revelation 12 Sign” sets a very specific date and time:

S3 Understand the timing

For those who choose not to get ready, Jesus promises to come as a thief. To me, this strongly suggests He knows when He is showing up.

Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.
Revelation 3:3 KJV

The promise to watching believers is His appearing will not be a surprise.

But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
1 Thessalonians 5:4 KJV

Jesus made everything. He knows how it all works together.

All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
John 1:3 KJV

How could Jesus not know when He was on earth? He had emptied himself. He was operating as a man. I discuss this in this blog post. Between the time Jesus ascended into heaven and the revelation given to John, the Father and the Son had to have had a chat about upcoming events for this verse to be true.

The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:
Revelation 1:1 KJV

All knowledge is hidden in Christ.

For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
Colossians 2:1-3 ESV

Are there other Bible passages that were true at one time, but have been superseded? I suggest that this is a candidate.

And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen.
Genesis 22:14 KJV

I highly recommend you watch this video. The slides in this post came from it.

Jesus is coming soon! Be ready! I think Jesus knows when He is returning, but if not, the Father definitely knows! Be ready!

Are you following God's plan for your life? 
   You should.
      Your plan sucks.
      It really, really sucks.
      Suckage Maximus.

Most people are WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!

Jesus is coming.
   Are you ready to meet Him?
   Give your life to Jesus Christ.
   Time is running out.

End-Days Martha and Mary

Maybe I’m the only one, but sometimes I can feel fairly frantic when I think about the very real possibility that the harpazo — the rapture, the catching-away — is imminent. My thoughts seem to drop easily into one of three ruts, and it can be difficult to climb back out.

  1. Indescrible excitement and joy. This is it! The HalleluYah times are about to begin! My redemption is drawing nigh!
  2. Near panic and terror. Am I really ready, right now, to step into eternity? 
  3. Thoughts about how to reach family, friends, and the world at large, who don’t seem to be ready, and don’t seem to care.

Meditating on this passage is helping. 

Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”
Luke 10:38-42 ESV

The most important thing is to make sure I am spending enough time with Jesus!

Are you following God's plan for your life? 
   You should.
      Your plan sucks.
      It really, really sucks.
      Suckage Maximus.

Most people are WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!

Jesus is coming.
   Are you ready to meet Him?
   Give your life to Jesus Christ.
   Time is running out.

The Hope That Purifies

I don’t know if it will be later tonight or 50 years from now, but I’m expecting to see Jesus soon. I am finding myself discarding things of low and negative value. Truly, the hope I have of seeing God is indeed purifying me!

For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
Romans 8:13 ESV

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Hebrews 12:1-3 NIV

See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.
1 John 3:1-3 ESV

Are you following God's plan for your life? 
   You should.
      Your plan sucks.
      It really, really sucks.
      Suckage Maximus.

Most people are WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!

Jesus is coming.
   Are you ready to meet Him?
   Give your life to Jesus Christ.
   Time is running out.

Reversing Bad Financial Decisions

Having made a few poor financial decisions, this passage caught my eye and heart.

Then Amaziah assembled the men of Judah and set them by fathers’ houses under commanders of thousands and of hundreds for all Judah and Benjamin. He mustered those twenty years old and upward, and found that they were 300,000 choice men, fit for war, able to handle spear and shield. He hired also 100,000 mighty men of valor from Israel for 100 talents of silver. But a man of God came to him and said, “O king, do not let the army of Israel go with you, for the LORD is not with Israel, with all these Ephraimites. But go, act, be strong for the battle. Why should you suppose that God will cast you down before the enemy? For God has power to help or to cast down.” And Amaziah said to the man of God, “But what shall we do about the hundred talents that I have given to the army of Israel?” The man of God answered, “The LORD is able to give you much more than this.”
2 Chronicles 25:5-9 ESV

God can restore years of setbacks.

I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter, my great army, which I sent among you.
Joel 2:25 ESV

This is a good article: God Will Restore Your Wasted Years! David Wilkerson, 1990.

Are you following God's plan for your life? 
   You should.
      Your plan sucks.
      It really, really sucks.
      Suckage Maximus.

Most people are WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!

Jesus is coming.
   Are you ready to meet Him?
   Give your life to Jesus Christ.
   Time is running out.

HalleluYah Scriptures – 2 Thess 2:3

As discussed in this post, I ordered a copy of the  HalleluYah Scriptures in July. It came today. 🙂 It will take getting used to, but I already like it. Images


It translates 2 Thess 2:3 as “falling away,” not “the departure.”

 

Are you following God's plan for your life? 
   You should.
      Your plan sucks.
      It really, really sucks.
      Suckage Maximus.

Most people are WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!

Jesus is coming.
   Are you ready to meet Him?
   Give your life to Jesus Christ.
   Time is running out.

Fool Self-Test

I found some notes from 1995. It is good to look at my beliefs and actions to make sure I am not a fool. I have to say “Ouch!” on some of these and change.

Am I fat, dumb and happy? Do I put off implementing God’s correction until “later”?

The complacency of fools will destroy them.
Proverbs 1:32 ISV

complacent
adjective

1.

pleased, especially with oneself or one’s merits, advantages,situation, etc., often without awareness of some potential danger ordefect; self-satisfied:

The voters are too complacent to change the government.
2.
pleasant; complaisant.

Does the Word of God do me no good?

Like a lame man’s legs, which hang useless, is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
Proverbs 26:7 ESV

Do I keep doing the same sins over and over?

Like a dog that returns to his vomit is a fool who repeats his folly.
Proverbs 26:11 ESV

What about my motives? Am I a self-promoter? Do I plot evil?

If you have been foolish, exalting yourself, or if you have been devising evil, put your hand on your mouth.
Proverbs 30:32 ESV

Am I a know-it-all? Do I hate knowledge?

“How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge?”
Proverbs 1:22 ESV

Do I lose my temper?

Fools vent their anger, but the wise quietly hold it back.
Proverbs 29:11 NLT

Do I talk before I have all the facts?

To answer before listening– that is folly and shame.
Proverbs 18:13 NIV

When people try to give me good advice, do they feel like they are talking to a wall?

A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion.
Proverbs 18:2 ESV

Does money destroy me?

Why should a fool have money in his hand to buy wisdom when he has no sense?
Proverbs 17:16 ESV

Am I my own god?

Those who trust in themselves are fools, but those who walk in wisdom are kept safe.
Proverbs 28:26 NIV

Have I said in my heart, “There is no God.”?

The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, doing abominable iniquity; there is none who does good.
Psalm 53:1 ESV

Are you following God's plan for your life? 
   You should.
      Your plan sucks.
      It really, really sucks.
      Suckage Maximus.

Most people are WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!

Jesus is coming.
   Are you ready to meet Him?
   Give your life to Jesus Christ.
   Time is running out.

Be Reward Minded

The worst sermon I ever heard was at a funeral. The pastor talked about how the guest of honor had been a good person so was now in heaven. I almost couldn’t believe my ears. I had heard that there are unsaved ministers preaching useless garbage to their congregations, but this was the first time I had met one.

The second worst sermon I heard was during a Thanksgiving service. The pastor wanted us to feel guilty about our blessings, when so many don’t have much. It was “social gospel,” which I suppose is short for “socialism gospel.” The Bible teaches the exact opposite.

“Because you did not serve the LORD your God with joyfulness and gladness of heart, because of the abundance of all things, therefore you shall serve your enemies whom the LORD will send against you, in hunger and thirst, in nakedness, and lacking everything. And he will put a yoke of iron on your neck until he has destroyed you.”
Deuteronomy 28:47-48 ESV

The truth is God wants us to be reward-minded. Why did David offer to fight Goliath? Sex and money.

All the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him and were much afraid. And the men of Israel said, “Have you seen this man who has come up? Surely he has come up to defy Israel. And the king will enrich the man who kills him with great riches and will give him his daughter and make his father’s house free in Israel.” And David said to the men who stood by him, “What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?” And the people answered him in the same way, “So shall it be done to the man who kills him.”
1 Samuel 17:24-27 ESV

Why did Jesus die for us? The reward of the joy of redeeming us. He really wanted to die so He could save us.

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:2 KJV

For some people, this life is their only reward.

Rise up, LORD, confront them, bring them down; with your sword rescue me from the wicked. By your hand save me from such people, LORD, from those of this world whose reward is in this life.
Psalm‬ ‭17:13-14a‬ ‭NIV

Look forward to receiving your crown! Yeah, we don’t deserve it. It’s just another undeserved thing God wants us to have.

Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.
2 Timothy 4:8 ESV

Are you following God's plan for your life? 
   You should.
      Your plan sucks.
      It really, really sucks.
      Suckage Maximus.

Most people are WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!

Jesus is coming.
   Are you ready to meet Him?
   Give your life to Jesus Christ.
   Time is running out.

Disobedient Children

It is very, very serious.

But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.
2 Timothy 3:1-5 ESV

If one curses his father or his mother, his lamp will be put out in utter darkness.
Proverbs 20:20 ESV

“Whoever curses his father or his mother shall be put to death.”
Exodus 21:17 ESV

Are you following God's plan for your life? 
   You should.
      Your plan sucks.
      It really, really sucks.
      Suckage Maximus.

Most people are WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!

Jesus is coming.
   Are you ready to meet Him?
   Give your life to Jesus Christ.
   Time is running out.

Why Do Prayer Answers Take So Long Sometimes?

Angels are sometimes used to answer our prayers.

Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?
Hebrews 1:14 NIV

“See to it that you do not despise one of these little ones, because I tell you, their angels in heaven always have access to my Father in heaven.”
Matthew 18:10 ISV

Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.
Psalm 103:20 KJV

The book of Daniel records the interesting story of spiritual warfare that hindered the answer to Daniel’s prayer.

And behold, a hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees. And he said to me, “O Daniel, man greatly loved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for now I have been sent to you.” And when he had spoken this word to me, I stood up trembling. Then he said to me, “Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand and humbled yourself before your God, your words have been heard, and I have come because of your words. The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days, but Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I was left there with the kings of Persia, and came to make you understand what is to happen to your people in the latter days. For the vision is for days yet to come.”
Daniel 10:10-14 ESV

The angel with the answer to Daniel’s prayer was hindered twenty-one days! Does this verse make more sense knowing this?

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
Ephesians 6:12 ESV

Continue praying!

And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. He said,”In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.'” And the Lord said,”Hear what the unrighteous judge says. And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”
Luke 18:1-8 ESV

Pray without ceasing.
1 Thessalonians 5:17 KJV

I wrote about how to use God’s Hammer:

Is not my word like fire, declares the LORD, and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?
Jeremiah 23:29 ESV

Prayers by God’s children are powerful!

The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
James 5:16b NIV

Are you following God's plan for your life? 
   You should.
      Your plan sucks.
      It really, really sucks.
      Suckage Maximus.

Most people are WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!

Jesus is coming.
   Are you ready to meet Him?
   Give your life to Jesus Christ.
   Time is running out.