The Hour Is Near

What is “The Hour?”

It’s a moment of extreme significance.

It’s a “burn the ships” moment.

It’s a moment where the seen and unseen works of God suddenly converge.

It’s a moment that changes everything.

Jesus declared to His disciples in Matthew 26:45, just hours before His death, “...Look, the hour is near, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.” 

Prior to this declaration, Jesus prepared for His Hour in four specific ways:  place, people, passion, and prayer.

Place is any location you set apart for God.  It could be a prayer room or under a tree; it could be a sanctuary or a prison cell; it could be a commute or a comfortable recliner.  For Jesus, it was Gethsemane.  Place is important because it is the backdrop of your preparation.

People are your community.  For Jesus, it was His disciples. You were created for community not isolation.  Community is important, but it is not perfect (can I get an Amen?).  People will let you down (can I get a louder Amen?).  Jesus’ disciples fell asleep when they were supposed to be keeping watch (v40). Never let the actions of a few permanently taint how you value community.

Passion is an inner stirring that produces motivation.  Jesus’ soul was “overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death (v38).”  You will not fully prepare for Your Hour if you are not passionate about the Will of God.  When was the last time you desired God’s Will so much that you were literally overwhelmed with an aching passion?

Prayer is conversation with God.  Prayer should be lots of listening and little talking. If you listen first and talk second, your heartfelt prayers will ultimately align you with the Father’s heart.  If you reverse the order, you run the risk of drifting away from the Father’s heart.  Jesus concluded His time of prayer by saying to the Father, “...may your Will be done (v42).”

So is this a blog about the Hour of your death?  Not at all!  Your Hour, my Hour, a stranger’s Hour, a friend’s Hour, a family member’s Hour, or Celebration’s Hour for 2019 could be any number of possibilities.  The abundant goodness stored in the Father’s heart for His children should make us full of excitement and anticipation for what He has planned.

The Hour is near.

It is exceedingly and abundantly more than you could ask or imagine.

It is on time.

It is worth the wait.

It is for His glory.

It’s time to get prepared.
(Join us tonight at 7pm for more teaching on this text.)

Ex nihilo,


R.J. Rhoden