The subject “Watch and Pray” is drawn from the warning of Jesus Christ in verse 36 of chapter 21 of the book of Luke which reads: “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.”
This warning of our Lord was a follow-up to his prophetic pronouncements in the preceding verses in regard to the last days of this evil world in which we are now living. He said, “And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken…And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh … And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.” Luke 21:25, 26, 28-35) The warning of Jesus Christ against surfeiting (excessive eating and drinking), and worldly worries or cares should be taken very seriously by the faithful as not to indulge in sinful pleasures as the ungodly do.
Will Of God
The Almighty God was not pleased with the Jews of old because of their spiritual ignorance and blindedness, and He said: “Yea, the stork in the heaven knoweth her appointed times; and the turtle and the crane and the swallow observe the time of their coming; but my people know not the judgment of the LORD.” (Jeremiah 8:7) But Jesus Christ forewarned his worshippers thus, “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. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.” – Matthew 24:42-44.
The word “watch” in the context of Luke chapter 21 verse 36, and Matthew chapter 24 verse 42, has the meanings of keeping a guard upon oneself against sin, and of being on the lookout or being observant as to see what comes or happens. This is spiritual vigilance which requires diligent reading or searching or the Scriptures in order to know and understand the signs of the times that are physically staring people in the face today. And it must be accompanied with prayer of faith to God for His mercy, protection and deliverance from the trouble or tribulation that will shake the whole world and destroy the wicked or ungodly at the appointed time. – Isaiah 26:21; Joel 2:32; Romans 10:13; Matthew 21:22; Mark 9:23,24, etc.
It should be realized that our prayers will not be heard or answered by God if we do not repent of our sins, prays in accordance with His will, or endeavour to live uprightly or honestly at all times by His grace. – Isaiah 59:1-4; ohn 9:31; 1 John 3:22.
Place of safety
Before one will be saved one must first be in a place of security or safety which God has provided. It is there one can effectively watch and pray. That place is the Lord’s Organisation or holy Church or Kingdom symbolically called “Mountain” by Jesus Christ (Matthew 24:15,16) where God’s doctrine or the truth of His word is preached without pollution of corruption or what Saint Paul called the “doctrines of devils”! – 1 Timothy 4:1-6,15,16; Colossians 2:8; Matthew 15:1-14, etc.
And without fear of criticism, we must say that the God’s Kingdom Society (GKS) as well as any other Church Organisation in any part of the world that preaches God’s right doctrines WITHOUT CORRUPTION is God’s holy Organisation or Church or Mountain which He has established for His sheep to flee into for spiritual security or safety in this our age – the last day and eventual salvation by the grace of God. – Isaiah 26:20,21;Luke 21:34-36; Joel 2:32; Romans 10:13; Psalm 145:18; Matthew 7:21.
And what is more, Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ admonished the faithful in his epistle when he said: “But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.” – 1 Peter 4:7.