Watch, Pray, Be Ready

Most people, when thinking about Jesus' plans to return, take the mental approach of "couching" the issue. They tell themselves "it'll all work out," which gives comfort to taking a "wait and see" approach. This is actually the most un-Biblical approach, as Jesus said "watch and pray" or "watch and be ready" nearly every time He spoke of His return.


Mark 13:32-33 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is.


Jesus WILL return to take over the earth. The very hostile takeover He has planned is THE single most intense event the world has seen so far. More intense than Noah's flood, the destruction of Sodom, the Exodus, or the Book of Acts. In fact, it is the world-wide fullness of all of those prophetic "down-payments" released in the past. Jesus said watch and pray. Not because it might not happen, but so that YOU would endure it all the way through.


Most won't watch anymore, because the news is "too depressing." BUT, the Bible promises many believers will become offended at Jesus when He allows the intensity of His plan to happen. If you can't handle the news right now, you are already feeling the first pangs of offense. If this is the case for you, what is coming is going to be very uncomfortable for you:


Matthew 24:10-13 And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved.


There is only one other time Jesus said to His disciples specifically to "watch and pray." Do you remember when??


Matthew 26:38-41 Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.” He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will. ” Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”


His disciples did not listen. They didn't get what was about to happen. They wouldn't obey Jesus, but rather slumbered and slept. Jesus was intense...literally sweating blood...and the disciples were NOT on the same page! In this most intense hour, they were mentally disconnected from the one they were devoted to, even though if they would of looked closely, they would have seen His face bleeding from intensity of heart. Jesus deserved more than that, for sure, but the real tragedy was for the disciples. It WOULD all work out for Jesus just fine.


Because the disciples wouldn't watch and pray, they really messed up in the time of trial. They all ran away and hid, even denying they knew Jesus! Can you imagine seeing Jesus raise Lazarus from the dead and less than 6 months later denying you even knew Jesus though you were one of His closest friends, literally sharing meals with Him for three years straight??!! You are SUPPOSED to spend time imagining it! Soon, something much more menacing than the Jewish council is coming to find out whether you will stand with Jesus...watch and pray!


Because the disciples wouldn't search Jesus face, and believe Him that something intense was about to happen, they misunderstood what was supposed to go down...what THEY were to do. They scattered in confusion, or worked counter to what Jesus was doing. Peter cut off some guy's ear, thinking he could fight his way out.


This is supposed to be a prophetic picture for us, but most of us just think that is the way it was "supposed to happen." NO!! Much was lost between Gethsemane and Acts 2, because the disciples would not obey Jesus' direct command to watch and pray. All disobedience carries a loss and a cost...all of it. We will never know how different the building of the Church would have been had the disciples watched and prayed as they were told...maybe it wouldn't have taken 2,000 years to get to this point...maybe the events described in Revelation would have been different, or less severe (it was written after this moment). Maybe the Church would be living in more victory right now...the greater things. We'll never know what was lost then...but we don't have to let more be lost now.


Revelation is a prophecy. ALL prophecy is an invitation. You MUST respond if you want the blessing of the prophecy...any prophecy. God refuses to violate free will, therefore, no prophecy will be fully yours unless you make actual choices to agree with it. Many will wait and see...it will all work out, but how will it work out for them??


Daniel 12:1-4 “At that time Michael, the archangel who stands guard over your nation, will arise. Then there will be a time of anguish greater than any since nations first came into existence. But at that time every one of your people whose name is written in the book will be rescued. Many of those whose bodies lie dead and buried will rise up, some to everlasting life and some to shame and everlasting disgrace. Those who are wise will shine as bright as the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever. But you, Daniel, keep this prophecy a secret; seal up the book until the time of the end, when many will rush here and there, and knowledge will increase.”


We are living in this day. There is MUCH to do. There are very specific steps we are supposed to be taking in our hearts for this time, in our families for this specific time, and in our city. There are specific prayers to be prayed. Specific parts of our lives to abandon, and specific tasks to put all of our energy into. There is much preparing to do for the flood of trouble that is coming. What we decide to do as a people will determine if we scatter in confusion or actually FLOURISH in this time. Some communities of people will be lights to the rest of the world. Arks, like Noah's, are being built all over the world by those who see the storm coming. They build them by going "all-in" on understanding Jesus plan to return and then making choices to agree with it. The Bible is CLEAR that the primary part of the plan being executed right now is the building of night and day prayer. As weird as it sounds, it is THAT knowable, and THAT important...it should actually be the primary focus of the Bride...not something neat that is happening. Not "another thing" the church does. Night and day prayer is the building of the ark. The rain is going to start...soon.


Luke 14:16-24 Then He said to him, “A certain man gave a great supper and invited many, and sent his servant at supper time to say to those who were invited, ‘Come, for all things are now ready.’ But they all with one accord began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a piece of ground, and I must go and see it. I ask you to have me excused.’ And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to test them. I ask you to have me excused.’ Still another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’ So that servant came and reported these things to his master. 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 here the poor and the maimed and the lame and the blind.’ And the servant said, ‘Master, it is done as you commanded, and still there is room.’ Then the master said to the servant, ‘Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. For I say to you that none of those men who were invited shall taste my supper.’ ”


Joel 2:11-18 The Lord is at the head of the column. He leads them with a shout. This is his mighty army, and they follow his orders. The day of the Lord is an awesome, terrible thing. Who can possibly survive? That is why the Lord says, “Turn to me now, while there is time. Give me your hearts. Come with fasting, weeping, and mourning. Don’t tear your clothing in your grief, but tear your hearts instead.” Return to the Lord your God, for he is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He is eager to relent and not punish. Who knows? Perhaps he will give you a reprieve, sending you a blessing instead of this curse. Perhaps you will be able to offer grain and wine to the Lord your God as before. Blow the ram’s horn in Jerusalem! Announce a time of fasting; call the people together for a solemn meeting (this is the House of Prayer and the primary reason Jesus is building it right now). Gather all the people— the elders, the children, and even the babies. Call the bridegroom from his quarters and the bride from her private room. Let the priests, who minister in the Lord ’s presence, stand and weep between the entry room to the Temple and the altar. Let them pray, “Spare your people, Lord ! Don’t let your special possession become an object of mockery. Don’t let them become a joke for unbelieving foreigners who say, ‘Has the God of Israel left them?’” Then the Lord will pity his people and jealously guard the honor of his land.





Watch and pray!