Current topic: Introduction to Intercessory prayer. We’re busy resolving a problem to load the audio clip. Please be patient.
Good morning.
If life as a Christian is easy for us we need to be alarmed, for we then probably are not where the Lord wants us to be. If we were a concern to our enemy, Satan, i.e. if we held a threat to him, he will do something to discourage us. “Be self- controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings,” (1 Peter 5:8, 9). These are words of action.
When Jesus went to the Gethsemane to pray during His time of worst attack, He urged the three disciples that were with Him to pray with Him. However, when He returned He found them sleeping. “‘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. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak,’” (Matthew 26:40, 41). We are in a war my friends, a war between darkness and light, and we are approaching the last days. There is no time to play church anymore; we need to fight the good fight of the faith. What percentage of the Christians just go on with life completely unaware that lots of souls go to hell and that they need to work at their own relationship with the Lord? “Therefore, my beloved... work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure,” (Philippians 2:12, 13). The Lord wants us ready and serving, being busy bringing in the lost souls.
Why did Jesus so determinedly tell parables such as the wise and foolish virgins (please read Matthew 25:1-13 – link below)? http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2025&version=NKJV.This parable ends with the words: “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming,” (V13). In Jesus’ conclusion of His end times prophecy, as recorded in Luke 21, He said: “But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man,” (Verses 34-36). As Christians we probably do not indulge ourselves in partying and drunkenness as such, but we use a lot of our time doing things that have nothing to do with God’ Kingdom at all.
We should be so in touch with the Lord all the time, that when He comes we won’t even realise He’d come. It should simply be a switchover from Him being spiritually in touch with our hearts to Him being physically present, for we’ve been in His presence all the time.
Watching denotes looking out. When we watch out for the devil, we expect him to hit at some stage. One day at work I suddenly had a few difficult customers in a row. I immediately recognised a spiritual attack aimed at stealing my peace, and went into spiritual warfare, resisting the devil. I watched, saw it coming, prayed and peace returned.
Looking out for Jesus’ return will cause us to make sure we’re ready to go. Remember, not everybody calling themselves Christians will enter the Kingdom of God, even if they appear to do great things for Jesus, but only those who obey His Father with pure motives (Matthew 7:21, 22).
“But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.” Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God,” (1 Peter 4:7-10).
Lord, I need to watch and pray. Please show me how.
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