Post by TaQuilla on Feb 18, 2007 15:23:52 GMT -5
Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. 1 Cor. 16:13
Watch= to observe carefully/continuously; wait in expectation/anticipation; stay awake deliberately; guard/protect.
Watch for what?
*For the signs of the end times, and the coming of the Lord (Mat. 24:42, 25:13)
*Satan’s tricks and temptations (Mt 26:41)
*For the “savage wolves” that are high up in the church (I.e. ministers, preachers, etc) distorting the truth, and drawing the people away from the truth to follow them (Acts 20:28-31)
Why should we watch?
*Because we don’t know when he’s coming, and we don’t want to be caught off guard (Mat. 24:42, 25:13)
*So that our weak flesh doesn’t cause us to fall into temptation ( Mat. 26:41)
*So that we’ll be able to “see” fully and understand what His will truly is (Mat 13:13-16)
*Because if we fall asleep, the coming of the Lord will be a painful surprise, like a woman’s labor pains (1 Ths. 5:6)
When should we watch?
*When we feel tired and weary (get lazy in our spirituality), this is when we are most vulnerable to Satan planting his seeds in our spirits (Mat. 13, 26:25-46, 1 Ths. 5:6)
*As the disciples fell asleep while Jesus was praying, the time that Jesus had been warning them about was much closer than they could even fathom…as it will be for us, as soon as we grow weary in our faith and begin sleeping, the time that Jesus has warned us about will come. (Mat 26:25-46)
Where should we watch?
*In the church (Acts 20:28-31)
*In our own circle of family and friends (1 Cor. 15:33)
How can we watch?
*Pray (Mat. 26:41)
*Stay w/Him (Mat. 26:38)
*By being alert, self-controlled, and sober - and not closing our spiritual “eyes” (1 Ths. 5:6)
*By studying and remembering warnings from scripture (Acts 20:31)
*By devoting ourselves to prayer and being thankful (Col 4:2)
*By enduring hardship, evangelizing, and fulfilling our (personal) ministries (2 Tim 4:5)
*By heeding to sound (thorough; complete; solid) doctrine (based on scripture), and not only listening to teachers/preachers/friends that tell us only what we want to hear (I.e. how we will succeed, prosper, be blessed by material things, be happy always, have our best life now, etc…)
~While these types of sermons certainly have a place in spiritual teachings, they are not complete, "sound” doctrine. They tell us only what I like to call the “fluff” side of the gospel, but that’s another Bible Study in and of itself .
Watch= to observe carefully/continuously; wait in expectation/anticipation; stay awake deliberately; guard/protect.
Watch for what?
*For the signs of the end times, and the coming of the Lord (Mat. 24:42, 25:13)
*Satan’s tricks and temptations (Mt 26:41)
*For the “savage wolves” that are high up in the church (I.e. ministers, preachers, etc) distorting the truth, and drawing the people away from the truth to follow them (Acts 20:28-31)
Why should we watch?
*Because we don’t know when he’s coming, and we don’t want to be caught off guard (Mat. 24:42, 25:13)
*So that our weak flesh doesn’t cause us to fall into temptation ( Mat. 26:41)
*So that we’ll be able to “see” fully and understand what His will truly is (Mat 13:13-16)
*Because if we fall asleep, the coming of the Lord will be a painful surprise, like a woman’s labor pains (1 Ths. 5:6)
When should we watch?
*When we feel tired and weary (get lazy in our spirituality), this is when we are most vulnerable to Satan planting his seeds in our spirits (Mat. 13, 26:25-46, 1 Ths. 5:6)
*As the disciples fell asleep while Jesus was praying, the time that Jesus had been warning them about was much closer than they could even fathom…as it will be for us, as soon as we grow weary in our faith and begin sleeping, the time that Jesus has warned us about will come. (Mat 26:25-46)
Where should we watch?
*In the church (Acts 20:28-31)
*In our own circle of family and friends (1 Cor. 15:33)
How can we watch?
*Pray (Mat. 26:41)
*Stay w/Him (Mat. 26:38)
*By being alert, self-controlled, and sober - and not closing our spiritual “eyes” (1 Ths. 5:6)
*By studying and remembering warnings from scripture (Acts 20:31)
*By devoting ourselves to prayer and being thankful (Col 4:2)
*By enduring hardship, evangelizing, and fulfilling our (personal) ministries (2 Tim 4:5)
*By heeding to sound (thorough; complete; solid) doctrine (based on scripture), and not only listening to teachers/preachers/friends that tell us only what we want to hear (I.e. how we will succeed, prosper, be blessed by material things, be happy always, have our best life now, etc…)
~While these types of sermons certainly have a place in spiritual teachings, they are not complete, "sound” doctrine. They tell us only what I like to call the “fluff” side of the gospel, but that’s another Bible Study in and of itself .
“And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!”
~Jesus~
Mark: 13:37
~Jesus~
Mark: 13:37