Watch and Pray

I think we miss great needs in another's life, because we do not take time to watch and pray. Perhaps we are concerned about our own problems, needs or desires? We need to take time to watch and to pray. At the time when Jesus, in the flesh needed the comfort of his closest friends, they slept.

Mat 26:36 Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder.
Mat 26:37 And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy.

Mat 4:21 And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.

Peter, James and John were with Jesus, before he would be betrayed by a friend; Judas. We should know the friends that we can trust and go to them when in need. Jesus knew that he was going to suffer more than any man and be crucified on a cruel cross. Watch and pray. Watch for the trouble coming, perhaps sound an alert. Can we apply this? Yes, trouble is coming on our nation, the signs are everywhere; watch, sound the gospel message forth unto all in the land; repent and come to Jesus, now is the time of salvation. Backslider, repent and come back to the Lord who has given you his own life, to save your soul.

Watch the countenance of Jesus, see that he is sorrowful and carrying a heavy burden. Come along side and pray with him, encourage him; watch and pray.

Mat 26:38 Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.

Jesus speaks his need to his friends. How will we know of a need if we do not share, one with another? Share with trusted friends, not a Judas, but those who are faithful. My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, he was grieved so very much even to the point of death. He just wanted to die and cast off this body of flesh, but he always did the Father's will. We must not seek death; watch and pray, there are others grieving more than you, they need your help and love. Watch with me, love me, understand with me what I am suffering. Yes, there is much to watch for.

Mat 26:39 And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.

Here is the essence of prayer. We may ask anything, in His will and we will receive it. Always submit your request to the will of the Father, for He has a greater purpose for you than we can ask or think.

1 Cor 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
1 Cor 2:10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

Watch and pray in the Spirit and he will reveal the deep things of God to you. Jesus was not allowed to escape the cross, because God the Father used this to defeat satan and to bring a multitude of souls to Himself. Jesus submitted to the will of the Father.

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

It was time to make our salvation possible; we are redeemed by the blood of the Lamb of God, who takes away our sins. We are bought with a great price. God who so loved the world, chose to come in a man to buy back our souls that were taken by satan, because of the sin Adam. We are bought with the price of the blood and death of Jesus, followed by His resurrection to glory. We are become as Jesus, son's of God, our sins are removed in him, for he took them all to the cross never to be remembered again. This great sacrifice was not easy, for he suffered greatly for us, being our Great High priest to make intercessions for us, as well as our Savior.

Heb 4:14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
Heb 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

Mat 26:40 And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?

watch: gregorio, to take heed lest through remission and indolence some destructive calamity suddenly overtake one. Another similar word, watchings: agrypnia, means sleeplessness, watching.

Paul described his afflictions in Christ;

2 Cor 11:27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.

Jesus was asking them to stay awake. He was not asking them to pray for an hour, when we pray and are tired, we may go to sleep. He was asking them to stay awake, trouble is coming, be alert and perhaps share with me my sorrows by bearing them with me. Most of us have casual fellowship of greetings. When asked "how are you", we say fine, because we know they do not want to take time to really hear our needs.

Gal 6:2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

The law of Christ is to love the brethren.

John 15:17 These things I command you, that ye love one another.
John 15:18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.
John 15:19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

Do not expect the world to help you when in afflictions.

Mat 26:41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

Watch and pray for yourselves as well, that ye enter not into temptation.

Mat 20:20 Then came to him the mother of Zebedee's children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him.

The mother's name was Mary, but there were so many Mary's, perhaps this is why Zebedee's name was so often used? She was one of the Mary's who were ministering to him as he went to the cross.

Mat 27:54 Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.
Mat 27:55 And many women were there beholding afar off, which followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him:
Mat 27:56 Among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee's children.

Mat 20:21 And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom.
Mat 20:22 But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able.
Mat 20:23 And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.
Mat 20:24 And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brethren.
Temptation for personal glory, temptation of the lusts of the flesh, watch and pray for the flesh is weak.

Phil 2:4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
Phil 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
Phil 2:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
Phil 2:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
Phil 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Phil 2:9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
Phil 2:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;Phil 2:11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Seek to be like Jesus, not to seek personal glory. He gave up all, we give up all, to do his will.

Mat 16:24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
Mat 16:25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
Mat 16:26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
Mat 16:27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.

Look up your redemption is near; watch and pray and do the wortk of an evangelist. Love one another and seek to share with one another until he comes to wipe away all tears.