Could You Not Watch With Me One Hour?
That’s the question that Yeshua (Jesus) urgently asked His disciples as He sensed, not only the advancing and increasing of satanic onslaught, but more so about the end of all things and the consummation of God’s eternal purposes. That’s the question that He is asking all of us today.
40 Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? 41 Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Mt 26: 40-41)
Friends, I don’t intend to broach with you about your prayerlessness. If you are sincere, you are already convicted when prayer is lacking. Nor do I intend to argue for you about the urgent call to watch and pray unceasingly, for you can read the Scriptures for yourself. Suffice to say that if you are not praying at least an hour a day, you have already entered into temptations! However, I want to encourage you to pray as from one who is joyfully learning and discovering the grace and truth of God about prayer, and in prayer!
God Trusts Our Prayers!
God asks us to pray simply because He has committed to work only through the prayers of His people. Do you realize that He trusts our prayers to change what is humanly impossible?
Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (1Tim 2:1-4)
God exhorts us to pray for all men because our prayers can save men and change men! God asks us to pray for kings and authorities simply because our prayers can save them and thus save and transform whole NATIONS! Think about that! Today we see false religions violently advancing in traditionally Christian nations, and sin, evil and perversions increasing with such amazing speed. But we do not need to be demoralized or hang our heads in despair because God has given us the all powerful and conquering weapon and antidote of prayer that not only neutralizes satanic schemes, but advances the purposes and
Prayer Releases the Spirit of God
There are only two kingdoms, two rulers and two armies in existence. Those who are of God, and those who belong to satan. And both sides are mainly activated by prayers. In many nations today, from before dawn to late at night, heathens are praying faithfully, regularly and loudly, saturating their nations with prayers and releasing hordes of satanic forces and witchcraft powers to work, while Christians are blissfully enjoying their life of “saved by grace and not works” that has no commitment or discipline to the work of prayer and praying. How many of us who say we are born again deny the flesh to wake up before dawn to pray, and pray at least five times a day, if not continually, as some of their non-Christian friends do? Yes, we should be ashamed, but more than that, let’s rise early and pray persistently, unceasingly, beseeching Yahweh our God in the Name of His Son, Yeshua, not only to nullify the prayers of the heathens, but to release the Spirit of God to work powerfully in our lives, families, churches, communities and nations! Our prayers will release the Spirit of God and the heavenly army of angels to joyfully work to bring the
The Right View of God
Many believers do not pray due to lack of faith that comes from not knowing how great our God is. Thus, we are simply overwhelmed by the “mountains” of evil, sin and human impossibilities that we see around us. Friends, do you have any idea how great our God is?
12Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, Measured heaven with a span, And calculated the dust of the earth in a measure? Weighed the mountains in scales, And the hills in a balance?...15Behold, the nations are as a drop in a bucket, And are counted as the small dust on the scales; Look, He lifts up the isles as a very little thing…17All nations before Him are as nothing, And they are counted by Him less than nothing and worthless. 18To whom then will you liken God? Or what likeness will you compare to Him? (Isa 40:12-18)
5Who is like the Lord our God, Who dwells on high, 6Who humbles Himself to behold The things that are in the heavens and in the earth? (Ps 113:5-6)
Collectively, all the 6.9 billion humans combined with the whole earth, the billions of stars, the billions of galaxies, yes, the entire visible and invisible creation of God Almighty, including satan and all his demonic hordes, are but less than a speck of dust in the sight of God! So much so that God has to stoop to behold His creation! HalleluYAH! Friends, let us rise up and pray to this Almighty God to destroy satan, his hordes and his works and advance His Kingdom on earth! No demon, evil, sin, sickness, plague or calamity is too great or impossible for our God to overcome with His infinitely great power!
19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power 20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. (Eph 1:19-21)
Ask, Seek and Knock
Are you not convinced by now that you should pray, and pray persistently and unceasingly? One reason we do not see God working powerfully in and around us is simply because we have failed to ask, and to ask rightly according to God’s will.
Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. (Mt 5:7-8)… “Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures”. (Js 4:2-3)
God promises us that if we pray according to His will, ALL our prayers will be answered!
14 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him. (1Jn
Knowing the greatness of God and His injunction for us to ask according to His will, what should we ask God for? What is His desire? From 1 Tim. 2 above, we know that His greatest desire is for all men to be saved. And God tells us how big our asking should be:
Ask of Me, and I will give You, The nations for Your inheritance, And the ends of the earth for Your possession. (Ps 2:8)
God asks us to ask for NATIONS to be saved! It does not matter if we see the nations overrun with false religions, ungodliness, sins or perversions. Remember the greatness of our God and that all these are as nothing before Him! Friends, let us rise up and boldly ask God for our nation and the nations to be saved! For they are our inheritance, joy and glory! Do not settle for less or for what is not eternal. Only souls are eternal!
19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? 20 For you are our glory and joy. (1Thess
Power in Unity
It is rare for any sizeable church to have more than 10% of its church membership attending prayer meetings regularly. Nevertheless, where corporate prayer is concerned, the effectiveness of the prayer is not determined by the numbers, but by the unity among those who are praying. Why? Because all that is needed to bring heaven down on earth in all its glory is just two believers joined in united prayers with the Lord! For Yeshua says,
18 “Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. 19 “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” (Mt 18:8-20)
So, friends, do not be discouraged that not many are praying. It is better for just two, three, four or five believers praying with one accord and love, with clean hands and pure hearts, without wrath and doubting, then a whole group of intercessors who are torn with strife, envy, evil suspicions, selfish ambitions and unresolved conflicts. Two believers praying with one accord and one mind are more powerful than 2000 praying without love and unity!
Watchmen on the Walls
Here is one of the main reasons why we need to pray unceasingly:
1 For Zion’s sake I will not hold My peace, And for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, Until her righteousness goes forth as brightness, And her salvation as a lamp that burns…6I have set watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; They shall never hold their peace day or night. You who make mention of the Lord, do not keep silent, 7And give Him no rest till He establishes And till He makes
Strong ancient cities were usually ringed with walls thick enough for people to live in or live by (eg. Rahab in Josh
Today, the Church has built “thick walls” of preaching, bible study, worship, evangelism, mission and many other programs but is sorely lacking watchmen intercessors to watch over its walls continually. We have weekly prayer meetings, yes, but few pastors or believers really understand sufficiently the dynamics of prayer and warfare in the spiritual realm to see the need for continuous or unceasing prayer and watching. For without a continuous watching, the enemies would have started coming against the church “walls” with ramparts. Many churches are cracking spiritually and will soon collapse and be overrun by such enemies as sins, deceptions, heresies and covetousness. Remember, we are contending with powerful, wicked spiritual enemies that work continually and do not sleep. That’s why Paul exhorted us to pray unceasingly for all:
12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God…18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints (Eph 6:12-18)
My friend, instead of lamenting about prayerlessness in the Church, you can make a difference by committing to the Lord to be a spiritual watchman for the people of God. If God has opened your eyes today about the truth of watching and praying, it is because He wants you to be the one to pray first!
The LORD Rebuke You Satan!
God has permitted satan and his demons to still operate within allowable authorities and boundaries over rebellious men and nations who refuse to submit to God’s rule and authority. Thus, believers are warned not to illegally usurp the legal positions or presumptuously revile the “dignity” of those in the satanic kingdom.
10 and especially those who walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise authority. They are presumptuous, self-willed. They are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries, 11 whereas angels, who are greater in power and might, do not bring a reviling accusation against them before the Lord. (2Pet
Yet, do we not see the ferocity of satan’s attack and invasion of heathens and believers alike, and the demonized hordes of his loyal worshippers marching through the streets even so called “Christian” nations to claim those nations for their gods? Can we then, who are in the
I believe we can conscientiously and authoritatively “wrestle” or contend with the principalities and powers without illegally overstepping our and their limit of authorities by following Scriptures. Firstly, we have the example of Michael the
8 Likewise also these dreamers defile the flesh, reject authority, and speak evil of dignitaries. 9 Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” (Jude 8-9)
Then, we have the example of Yahweh Himself dealing with satan directly:
Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the Angel of the LORD (Yahweh), and satan standing at his right hand to oppose him. 2 And the LORD (Yahweh) said to satan, “The LORD (Yahweh) rebuke you, satan! The Lord (Yahweh) who has chosen
These then are some of the ways we can confront the advancing satanic enemy:
· “The LORD rebuke you satan!” or, “Yahweh rebuke you satan!”
· “Yahweh rebuke you principality of (nation)!”
· “Yahweh rebuke you powers of witchcraft!”, etc…
By praying in this way, we are humbly, rightly but authoritatively acknowledging that, ultimately, it is God who has the authority, power and right to limit or destroy satan and his works! We are but channels for God’s Kingdom to come and His will to be done!
Let Others Pray?
Perhaps, for different reasons, you may still say you would prefer to let others pray, but not yourself. After all, the Church and the world have continued on even without your prayers thus far. Yes, the purposes and
Queen Esther was severely warned that if she kept silent and refused to intercede to her king and husband for the deliverance of God’s people, the Jews, God would yet raise up help from another source but Esther and her family would perish as a result of her refusal (Esth. 4:13-14). As a result of Esther’s intercession, the Jew not only were saved, but many Gentiles became Jews as well (Esth.
Watch and Pray Always
The spiritual health of a believer is the “size” of his prayer life. The real health and size of the church is the size of her prayer meetings! If we really know the greatness of God and how He has ordained prayer as the divine way of bringing His kingdom and purposes to pass, how can we not pray, and pray more and longer! We will want to pray more and work less in the flesh and still be confident that the fruit and effectiveness will increase, not decrease. We will want to reduce our talking, eating, sleeping and all indulgences of self and flesh in order that we can pray more so that we do not fall into temptations and miss the return of Yeshua for His Bride.
34“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. 35 For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 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.” (Lk 21:34-36)
How much should we pray? Firstly, we are exhorted to attain an inward unceasing prayer and communion with God. Secondly, I believe the Lord also exhort us to actively pray at least an hour daily to maintain a walk that overcomes temptations and the flesh. As an example, praying through the Lord’s Prayer (Mt 6:9-13) is a good way of starting to pray at least an hour a day. But regardless of how you want to pray, the important thing is to begin praying! The sooner you begin to pray, the faster you will learn how to. Do not be critical or be discouraged at the prayerlessness in and around you. You can be a catalyst and encourager to others:
· Establish first a consistent personal prayer life.
· Pray for a prayer partner or even partners to pray together in agreement.
· Join a strong prayer group both to learn and contribute in prayer.
· Attend your church prayer meetings regularly as an example to others and be an encourager to your pastor.
Friend, the Church is waiting for your prayers;
| If you have any comment or query, or if you want to know how you can be saved and have a personal relationship with your Creator God through Yeshua Christ, please write to thekingdompeople@yahoo.com. It will be my pleasure to help you to know God personally. All sincere inquiries will be responded to. |
