Watch with Me Depression Seeking The Kingdom Of God Distress of Nations
Watch with Me
BY: Kirbbie L. Cowart
Only days before dying on the cross, Jesus said to His disciples, “Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me (John 12:31-32).” Jesus was speaking of His being “lifted up” on the cross in crucifixion. Jesus asked his disciples to “watch and pray” with him. He said, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even unto death (Matthew 26:38).” He knew that his time had come, but He also knew that it was the “world” that was about to be judged, and there would be none found righteousness. “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: (Romans 3:10)” If He did not offer that perfect sacrifice for the sin of the world, the world would be found guilty and must immediately perish. He knew the sacrifice that he was going offer was His own body and blood as He suffered the cruel “death of the cross.” He died for the sin of the whole world.
Once again the world is coming to judgment and will stand before the Lord to give an account to God. Jesus told the disciples to be watchful because they would not know the day or the hour the Son of man cometh. “Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. (Matthew 24:42-43)”
“Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh. (Matthew 25:13)”
I believe he is saying to the church "WATCH"! So much of the church has gone to sleep and stopped praying just like the disciples did. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. How many times I have heard these words when I was pastoring. “I was with you in spirit last week but I just could not make it.” Making excuses for not coming to the church services or to the revival will not hold water when you stand before God. We are living in a time when people have put God on their timetable. If I have the time I will go to church or to the revival. Just to refresh your memory about what God thinks of excuse makers look at Luke 14:16-24 “Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready. And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come. So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind. And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room. And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.”
I have had pastors tell me "Brother Cowart we can have one of the greatest service on Sunday morning, heaven will come down with people praying in the alters, and you would think ‘we are going to have a great time tonight.’ Sunday night comes and just a handful of people show up for church, when Sunday morning the house was packed and heaven came down. Wednesday night? Just a handful if you can call it that. You ask yourself where are all the people?" Can I tell you something? They are spiritually asleep! They are not “watching and praying” as Jesus said, and have come into one of the most trying and testing times of their life. They will tell you “It’s MY kids, MY wife, My husband, My job, My this, and My that,” and the world is falling in on them all because they are not Watching and Praying. “And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. (Matthew 26:40-41)”
Jesus said “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation.” The word temptation according to Strong’s Concordance, means “adversity.”
“Jesus said what I say unto you I say unto all...” that means you and me... "Watch" And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch. Mark 13:37
ARE YOU WATCHING?
Are you watching the signs of the times? Do you not know that the coming of the Lord is at hand. I have talked to people about the war in Israel and many say, “They have been killing one another for hundreds of years; it is no concern of the U.S., we should stay out of it.” You can tell them what the Bible says about the end of time and they hoot at it. In other words, they laugh in contempt of what you are saying.
“Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. 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. 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: (Mark 13:33-35)”
I sometimes wonder if Jesus will one day say to a sleeping church "sleep on" like he did to the disciples. “And he cometh the third time, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: it is enough, the hour is come; behold, the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. (Mark 14:41)”
The things that are coming upon this earth are too horrible and horrific. You will not wont to be here. That is why he said, “Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. (Luke 21:36”)
To those that are not watching he will come on them as a thief. “Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. (Revelation 3:3)”
To those that are looking for him he will appear. “And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. (1 Peter 5:4)”
“And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. (1 John 2:28)”
Will you be ashamed when Jesus comes back? Repent Today!!
Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
Acts 1:11