Fred Whitlark Friday Night message 7/8/23

Good evening Brethren …

 Tonight we continue our series on what it means to watch, as the word is used in Scripture.

Luke 21:36 cannot mean to track world conditions or events.

Hear are four reasons why that is so …

1.     None of the Greek words translated as “watch” in the NT means or implies keeping abreast of world news.

2.     The disciples would never have taken Jesus’ admonition to watch to mean watching world news.

3.     Even if the disciples did take that as the true meaning, it was impossible to do so in that day and age.  Mass media and communications technology did not exist – it was simply not available back then.  It took weeks or even months for news to travel.

4.     Most importantly, a reading of the scriptures themselves, in their proper context, will show that “to watch” has a different meaning.

Matt. 26:36-41 – Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, Sit here while I go and pray over there.  And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed.  Then He said to them, My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death.  Stay here and watch with Me.  Jesus went a little father 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.

At this critical time in His life, was Jesus contemplating the politics in Rome, or wondering about the effect that the Tunisian pirates might have on trade on the Mediterranean Sea and the economy, or thinking that the current drought in Syria would lead to higher wheat prices or perhaps even a famine?

No….. rather, He was seeking spiritual strength and encouragement from His Father. 

He was needing the power of God’s Spirit to help Him to face the biggest challenge of His entire life here on earth.  And He warned Peter and the others that if they didn’t watch and pray, that they might succumb to temptation and sin.

Certainly, to watch here does not mean to keep current on current events.  It does have a lot to do with being aware of a person’s own spiritual condition, and to pray is mentioned as a companion to watching.  The activities of watching and praying go together.

Heb. 13:17 – Remember those who lead you (who rule over you), who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct.

The elders in the church of God are concerned about the spiritual condition of the sheep under their care, just as the shepherds in the hills of Judea kept watch over the flocks the night that Jesus was born.  Again, this has nothing to do with watching world news.

Notice the admonition in Paul’s final address to the elders at Ephesus:

 Acts 20:17, 28-31 –  From Miletus Paul sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of the church...Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God, which He purchased with His own blood.  For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.  Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things to draw away the disciples after themselves. Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.  

Here Paul is warning the elders to take heed to themselves, in order to protect the flock of God.  There is no mention here of external events happening in the world around them.  Paul is admonishing the elders to watch themselves – to beware of allowing their spiritual condition to deteriorate to a point where they …. either fail to protect the flock from outside threats, or are even tempted themselves to draw sheep away from God’s truth and to draw them out of the body of Christ.

Next week we will describe two of the four components of Biblical “watching”.

Good Sabbath, good night.

Fred