Watch and Pray

Mark 13:31 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.

His words are truth. Beware of false prophecies, for they are false ones. God's word is truth, and it shall come to pass. Every word is eternal truth. So we are to watch and pray with His eternal word in our hearts and minds. See with the eyes of the Lord.

Mark 13:32 But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.

Concerning his return for us; first is the rapture and the church shall be caught up to meet him. Do not believe anyone who says they know the day of Christ's return. No one knows, but the Father and now Jesus is with the Father. He will know the day before we will and he will show us things to let us know his coming is near.

Mark 13:33 Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.

Take heed, be aware and watch and pray; you may not know the exact time but you shall know the times as they are coming to pass. What are we to look for?

Mark 13:7 And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet.
Mark 13:8 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows.

Watch

Mark 13:34 For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.

The Son of man, Jesus used this name. It is found eighty-eight times in the new testament. He has taken a far journey, to be at the right hand of the Father; God almighty. He has given authority to his servants.

Luke 22:25 And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors.
Luke 22:26 But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.

...and to every man his work.

Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Eph 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
Eph 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

He commanded the porter to watch. The porter kept the gate of the sheep.

John 10:2 But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
John 10:3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.

The porter is the Holy Spirit who will show you all things that are coming, whatsoever Jesus reveals, he reveals through his Spirit to those watching.

Mark 13:35 Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning:

watch and be prepared

Mark 13:36 Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.

Sleeping, when you were supposed to be serving him. Spiritually asleep, the mind on something else perhaps seeking entertainment? This is where most people fail. They are not looking for his return, instead they are seeking things to entertain the mind, emotions and their flesh. Shouldn't we be seeking God with all our attention and praying, speaking and hearing from the LORD? Even when we seek the LORD their are distractions and annoyances sent from the devil to keep us unfocused and busy.

Mark 13:37 And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.

watch; phylakē, to guard, to watch, keeping watch

The words: watch and pray are used one more time by Jesus.

at Gethsemane

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.

Peter, James and John were with Jesus, before Judas would betray him. 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.Sometimes we need to watch out for others to protect them from dangers, especially from those who wish to do harm. Watch and pray, watch for the trouble coming and sound an alert. 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. Can we apply this? Yes, trouble is coming to 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. Do we want to help Jesus? Then we are to take care of our brothers and sisters who are in need.

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 the 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 are, they need your help and love. Watch with me, love me and 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 power of prayer. We may ask anything, in His will and we will receive it. Always submit your request to the will of the Father and as much as possible pray using his promises in the Bible. Watch and pray in the Spirit and he will reveal the deep things of God to you.

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.

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 always submitted to the will of the Father. It was time for him 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 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. Now Jesus our savior stands up for us being our Great High priest to make intercessions for us.

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?

Another Greek word for watch: gregorio, to take heed lest through remission and indolence some destructive calamity suddenly overtake one.

Jesus was asking them to stay awake. He was asking them to stay awake and pray, trouble is coming. Be alert and perhaps share with me my sorrows by bearing them with me. Most of us have casual fellowship. When asked, "how are you", we say fine, because we know they do not want to take time to really hear our needs and perhaps we have enough of our own concerns to be concerned for others? Jesus wants us to wake up, to watch and pray, showing concern for our brothers and sisters.

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, unless you have money.

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, the temptation of lust or idolatry.

Seek to be like Jesus, not to seek personal glory. He gave up all, so are to give up all to do his will. Look up, your redemption is near; watch and pray and do the work of an evangelist. Love one another and seek to share with one another until he comes to wipe away all tears.

Asleep on the watch

Mat 26:42 He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.

A second time Jesus goes to pray in the Father's will, not in his emotions, although he felt the emotions of a human.

Mat 26:43 And he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy.

His appointed night watch and prayer team were heavy in sleep. Often satan will keep people from sleep, but when it is time to pray and watch, they get sooo sleepy.

Isa 56:10 His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber.

Mat 26:44 And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.

Luke 22:43 And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.
Luke 22:44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
Luke 22:45 And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow,
Luke 22:46 And said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.

Mat 26:45 Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.

They missed an important calling. When it is past, then they looked back with regrets. Use those missed opportunities as a lesson to seek God and to stay close to him. Watch and pray for yourself and for your family of God. Keep watching, keep praying and be faithful, He is coming back for us. Watch and pray for his return so that you will be accounted as faithful. Reach out to the lost and those in need so that you will do his work until he comes. Watch and pray hear and do his will.