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Link to Full Article:
http://www.gracevalley.org/sermon_trans/2002/Watch_and_Pray.html




Watch and Pray
P. G. Mathew, M.A., M.Div., Th.M.
(Following is an excerpt of full article)



“Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.”
Matthew 26:41a

But the text tells us they did not watch, they did not pray, and, therefore, they fell. In their defeat, they denied the Lord Jesus and fled as he was facing his greatest trial.

Today, we are facing our GREATEST trials of faith! If we don’t make time to “Watch and Pray” we WILL FALL!


What Is Watching?

What, then, is watching? It is seeing reality through the lens of God’s infallible word. In Genesis 3 we see that because Adam and Eve were not watching, they believed the lie of Satan and fell.
Watching means sleeplessness. It means to be awake and aware of surrounding realities. In the Scriptures it means to be spiritually alert, having a mind that is renewed by divine realities. A watchful person is guided by the knowledge of God. Such a person abides in the word of God. Paul said, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.”
A watchful person rejects the wisdom of this world. He knows it is foolishness because it denies the ultimate reality of God, the author of creation and ruler of all. He knows that it denies the revelation of God in Jesus Christ.
The watching person is spiritually alert and very aware that sin still dwells in him. He knows that Jesus Christ defeated Satan by his death on the cross, but he is also aware that Satan and his demons are still given freedom to rule and tempt all believers. The watching person is aware that Satan, the enemy of his soul, is constantly prowling about like a roaring lion, seeking to devour every believer, if possible.
A watching person also knows from the word of God that this world is not abiding but will pass away. Thus, he knows it is foolish to trust in this world and its intoxicating attractions. He remembers Lot’s wife and embraces the truth of what Jesus said when he asked, “What does it profit if you gain the whole world and lose your soul?”
The watching person realizes that he can die at any moment and slip into eternity.


The Heavenly Vision [or Focus] of a Watching Person

The believer always looks at reality through God’s infallible word. Having seen heavenly things, he refuses to be like the people who lived on earth before the flood or like those who lived before the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah who focused solely on the things of this world.


A watching person understands that not only is there a God, but there is a devil seeking to devour him. The watching person also understands that as a Christian he is engaged in a continual struggle: “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

As Christians, we must struggle against the evil forces that operate in this world by divine permission. “Therefore,” Paul says, “put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.” Praise God, he has given us armor, the full armor of God, so that we will not fall into temptation, but stand our ground.

“Be alert!” Paul exhorts. A believer watches by thinking God’s thoughts. He is engaged in a struggle against evil forces that seek to make him fall. He is also aware that the Lord Jesus Christ may come back at any moment. Thus, watching people who comprise the true church make themselves ready, clothing themselves in the bright and clean garments of the good works of Christian obedience.

The Privilege of Prayer

Jesus also told his disciples to pray. Prayer is the most difficult exercise in the Christian life, but what a privilege it is! God has given us the right to pray to him in the name of Jesus Christ. The right to pray and receive an answer from the living God is the greatest privilege a Christian has.

Our Need to Pray

Why do people fall into the same sin again and again? Because they do not watch and pray. They think they can operate in their arrogance and self-sufficiency, but the devil is stronger than their self-sufficiency.

Prayer Is Communication

When we go to the Most Holy Place, we go to adore our God, confess our sins to him, give thanks to him, and make supplication of him. Prayer is communication with God.

The prayer of a watching person is always effectual because God gives us his grace to deal with every situation.

The Weapon of Prayer

As Jesus came to Gethsemane we are told he was overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. He asked his disciples, “Please stay with me and pray with me.” Imagine, the Lord Jesus Christ desired the society of his disciples and their help in prayer. But they slept the whole time. But although the disciples did not watch and pray, Jesus did, praying three times. After he was finished, he told his disciples, “I am ready now. Let’s rise and go.” Jesus was ready to meet the devil.

This is the power of effectual prayer. Jesus came, he prayed, and he overcame temptation.

This weapon of prayer is mightier than all the weapons of hell. In fact, the devil trembles whenever a Christian is on his knees. It is said of John Knox that rulers trembled whenever he prayed and preached. All hell shakes when a Christian prays.


Watch, Pray, and Triumph!

This was the good counsel Jesus gave to his disciples and it is the good counsel for us too.

Jesus was tempted to deny the cross, but as he watched and prayed, he was successful over the temptation. What was the temptation of the disciples? To deny Jesus. “Oh,” they said, “We will never deny Jesus,” but when Jesus told them, “Watch and pray, that you may not fall into temptation,” what did they do? They slept, and so they failed to resist the temptation.
As Jesus was being arrested, Peter made one last attempt to save Jesus from the cross. He had been sleeping when Jesus told him to watch and pray. When he woke up, he took a sword and tried to cut off the head of a man to prevent Jesus from being crucified. He missed, cutting off the man’s ear instead. Then Peter denied Jesus three times: “I do not know him!” This is what happens to those who do not watch and pray


We face extraordinarily difficult days ! We will be Victorious thru every trial, ONLY, by MAKING TIME to Watch, and Pray! Maranatha!

Hi Sgb,

Thank you for this very good article reminding us to pray and "watch"


God Bless


ybic

Steven