Message begins with a tie in to the previous message:
Last week Matthew 21:12-13 (read)
- Jesus in the temple not happy with what it had become, and what it wasn’t
- The Next Day – Jesus curses a fig tree, and spends some time teaching in parables
- He is challenged by the Pharisees and the Sadducees on taxes and the resurrection
- He preaches a message to the crowds that my Bible labels - “Seven Woes to the Scribes and Pharisees”
How’s that for a confrontational teaching?
- Then, with His heart broken by all He has seen, He laments over Jerusalem
- Read Matthew 23:37-38
That brings us to chapter 24. While getting ready to leave the city, Jesus’ disciples are marveling over the beauty of the temple, and Jesus sees an open door for some teaching.
This teaching will later take on the label “The Olivet Discourse”:
He begins to teach about the end of the age, the tribulation and His second coming
In here is teaching that is pivotal in some of the pre- and post-tribulation debates
Another sign of my aging is my increasing interest in such reflections
i.e. Matthew 24:29, an anchor verse for post-tribulation (read through v. 31)
i.e. Mathew 24:37 (read through v. 41)
A question for reflection: In the days of Noah, who disappeared?
But before we get too side tracked this morning. Regardless of pre-trib, post-trib, pre-millennial, post-millennial, a-millennial or just plain Kentuckian, when Jesus speaks of the end of the age He has some instruction and advice that He gives to the disciples.
Now, can we all agree that we are closer to the end of the age, to Jesus return then we were 50 years ago? Amen?
Then it would be wise for us to take notice of, and head Jesus’ advice in this passage. And this is what He tells the disciples. Matthew 24:42 (read through 44).
Jesus tells the disciples, and I believe us today, that we are to stay awake. Or as other versions translate it, watch. This is derived from the Greek: gray-gor-yoo-o (repeat)
The Meaning of grayporgyooo: to give strict attention to, to be cautious, to take heed lest some calamity overtake you.
It would become a word the disciples would become very familiar with over the next few days. Turn with me to Matthew 26:36 (read through verse 46 – highlighting phrases)
“Watch and Pray” – Redundancy for emphasis
Jesus establishes a connection that will continue –
Colossians 4:2 (read)
Highlight - I Thessalonians 5:6 (Be watchful) & 17 (Pray continually)
In fact, more than simply connected, I would suggest they are almost synonymous.
Praying is the way that we keep watch. Praying is keeping watch.
Another end-times passage: Mark 13:32 (read through verse 37)
If meant literally, we would all be falling asleep on the job, right? Obviously Jesus is not telling us we have to literally stay awake at all times. Never going to sleep. Instead, he is referring to a spiritual state of mind. A spiritual awareness. A spiritual preparedness. A spiritual watchfulness. And as we have seen from this language connecting these two words, that comes through prayer.
To be awake, is to be continually, spiritually alert through prayer. The night and day prayers of the people that Solomon spoke of at the dedication of the temple. The unrelenting prayer that Jesus spoke of in the parable of the persistent widow. The type of prayer life that says no matter what hour the master returns, He will find us keeping the watch.
Please understand today. This is not a momentary, spurty, temporary action or state of mind. It is a critical, ongoing spiritual posture, and for a number of reasons.
Matthew 26:41 gave us one reason that the posture of watchfulness, the posture of prayer is critical in the life of the believer. Jesus said (re-read).
A. LEST WE ENTER INTO TEMPTATION
Through prayer, we are able to take the willingness of the spirit, and strengthen the weakness of the flesh. Strengthen the resolve of our human nature by binding it to the heart of God.
Why else must we keep watch? Why else must we assume a continual posture of prayer?
I Peter 5:8 tells us, “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”
We are to be watchful, lest we fail. . .
B. TO BE AWARE OF THE ENEMY
On the watch. In the engaging of our weapons of warfare. In our mindset of prayer. We will find ourselves reminded that we are in a spiritual battle that requires a spiritual attentiveness, and if we let down our guard, there is an enemy waiting to devour us.
Breakdown: Correlation between post-tribulation believers, prayer warriors, and concern for the falling away, the “unpreparedness” of believers.
Turn to the book of Revelation. Revelation 3:1 (read through verse 3)
The Son of Man tells the church of Sardis to wake up. To become attentive. To post the watch or Jesus himself will come like a thief at an hour that is not known, and they will not be prepared. So they need to, and we need. . .
C. TO STRENGTHEN WHAT IS ALIVE IN US
As we enter this 40 Days of Prayer, if you are feeling spiritual dry. If you are looking at your prayer life. Your devotional life. Your life of ministry and service. And it looks dead. You need to post these verses on your mirror. On your car visor. In a place of prominence where you will daily read, “Strengthen what remains and is about to die.”
It’s not too late. You are at church. You have taken the steps to be here today. Maybe you have worshiped the Lord this morning with some degree of sincerity and effort. And that may be all that is left alive in you. That’s all right, as long as you don’t let that die. Begin today to commit yourself to strengthen what remains. Commit to wake up. Post the watch. Enter into that place of prayer where you remember what you have received and heard. Where you repent before the Lord, and watch His resurrection power bring back to life your spiritual being.
One more. These are very practical, real reasons to post the watch. To engage ourselves in a lifestyle of continual prayer. Revelation 16:15 (read)
Kind of a crazy verse, huh? But think about it. How much time do we spend primping in the morning? How much money do we spend buying the right clothes, and the right colognes, and the right “look”? And if we give all of that effort to our physical appearance, what a shame it will be if we have ignored our spiritual attire, and the King returns, and finds us naked. Exposed for what we are.
So we post the watch in order. . .
D. TO BE PREPARED FOR CHRIST’S RETURN
And this one really struck me as I reflected on these passages, and prayed about this message, and even had the chance to work on it sitting in the Prayer Room at IHOP in Kansas City. And I had to ask myself, “Have I included in my prayers, a prayer to be found ready.”
I pray for my physical health and well being. I pray for my needs to be provided. I pray the same things for my children and my wife, and my congregation. But do I pray that I will be found ready. Do I pray for my eternal preparation over and above my temporary physical condition?
IHOP Chorus –
I want to be found faithful
I want to be found ready
I want to be found faithful to the end
Most of us have heard at some point the fable, maybe an Aesop’s fable, the Emperor’s New Clothes. Remember that one? Revelation 16:15 speaks that fable in a spiritual sense. And it’s no fable. What wardrobe are you investing in? Will you be prepared for Christ’s return?
We want to help you develop a life style of the posted watch. That’s what our 40 Days of Prayer are designed to do. They are here to help us post the watch. To help us as a corporate body and as individual believers “watch”. Be alert. Be attentive to the things of Christ. To help us be found ready.
Re-cap 40 Days of Prayer Ministry
Reflection - Preaching the parable of the persistent widow in Haiti. (Luke 18:1-8) “But when the son of man returns, will He find faith on the earth?”
Will we still be praying? Will we still be attentive to God? Will the watch still be posted?
(Significant inspiration for this message came from the teaching of Mike Bickle at the International House of Prayer Pastor’s Conference 2007)
