Watch & Pray

Believers must learn to watch for temptations and pray in their time of need to receive strength and help to overcome sin. Though not exhaustive, the scriptures presented provide reveals examples, outcomes, and instruction, as well as, encouragement, blessings and consequences.

Defining Watch & Pray

To watch is to be attentive, observant, and aware. To spiritually watch, is to watch for temptations to sin. Prayer accompanies watching to draw spiritual strength and help from God. To not keep watch is to sleep. God reveals the examples and outcomes for both spiritually watching with prayer and spiritually sleeping.

Matthew 26:31, 33-35, 37-39 KJV - "31 Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad. ... 33 Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended. 34 Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. 35 Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples. … 37 And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. 38 Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. 39 And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt."

Matthew 26:40-41 KJV - "40 And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? 41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." (also Mark 14:34, 37-38, Luke 22:40, 46)

Matthew 26:42-45 KJV - "42 He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done. 43 And he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy. 44 And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. 45 Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners."

Matthew 26:56 KJV - "But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled."

Matthew 26:69-75 KJV - "69 Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee. 70 But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest. 71 And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth. 72 And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man. 73 And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee. 74 Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew. 75 And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly." (also Mark 14:68-72; Luke 22:54-62; John 18:25-27)

As a result of not watching and praying, all of the disciples were tempted into sin. Jesus, however, watched and prayed repeatedly, which resulted in his victory.

Commandment to Watch & Pray

Believers are instructed and repeatedly reminded to watch and to pray; and to do so continually.

Matthew 24:42-43 KJV - "42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. 43 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." (also Matthew 25:13)

Mark 13:33-35, 37 KJV - "33 Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. 34 For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. 35 Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: ... 37 And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch."

Luke 18:1 KJV - "And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;"

Luke 21:36 KJV - "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."

Acts 20:31 KJV - "Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears."

1 Corinthians 16:13 KJV - "Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong."

Colossians 4:2 KJV - "Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;"

Ephesians 6:10-11, 18 KJV - "10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. … 18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;”

1 Thessalonians 5:6 KJV - "Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober."

1 Thessalonians 5:17 KJV - "Pray without ceasing."

2 Timothy 4:5 KJV - "But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry."

1 Peter 4:7 KJV - "But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer."

Hebrews 4:15-16 KJV - "15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."

A Greek word for "watch" is also translated as "vigilant". Believers are instructed to be vigilant of the devil's pursuits against them and other believers. 

1 Peter 5:8-9 KJV - "8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world."

Manifestations of Mindedness

The opposite of being vigilant is being absent-minded. A believer who is not vigilant will not be spiritually aware of the subtleties and tricks of the devil, nor the severity of destruction that may be presently affecting them or others. Absent-mindedness rationalizes sin, excuses sin with grace, and grows apathy, which is past feeling conviction; and these are they who, yet believing, are drawn to sin, despise correction, and prefer teachers who don't teach hard truths. Believers are instructed to avoid vanity and ignorance of the mind and to be mindful of snares.

Luke 21:34-35 KJV - "34 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. 35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth."

Ephesians 4:17-19 KJV - "17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, 18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: 19 Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness."

1 Timothy 6:9 KJV - "But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition."

2 Timothy 2:25-26 KJV - "25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; 26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will."

2 Timothy 4:3 KJV - "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;"

John 6:59-61 KJV - "59 These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum. 60 Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it? 61 When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you?"

Hebrews 3:13, 15 KJV - "13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. 15 While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation."

2 Peter 2:18-21 KJV - "18 For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. 19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. 20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. 21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them."

Jude 1:4 KJV - "For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ."

Believers who are watchful will have a good report of being watchful, will be studious to learn God's truth, will be growing in discernment, and will watch over the souls of others.

1 Timothy 3:7 KJV - "Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil."

2 Timothy 2:15 KJV - "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."

Hebrews 5:14 KJV - "But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil."

Hebrews 13:17 KJV - "Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you."

The Watching Porter

A porter is also known as a watchman and a gatekeeper. A church porter was responsible for guarding and controlling entrance into the church. A church porter declines entrance to anyone that is not of the Faith and to anyone that has been removed from the assembly of believers. Believers are also referred to as the temple of God and are instructed as porters of the door to watch who they give place to.

Mark 13:34 KJV - "For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch."

John 10:1-3 KJV - "1 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. 2 But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out."

1 Corinthians 3:16 KJV - "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?"

2 Corinthians 6:16 KJV - "And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people."

Ephesians 4:26-27 KJV - "26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: 27 Neither give place to the devil."

Luke 8:12 KJV - "Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved."

John 13:2 KJV - "And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him;"

Blessings & Consequences

Believers who watch and pray will receive blessings.

Luke 12:37-38 KJV - "37 Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. 38 And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants."  (Matthew 24:45-47)

Luke 21:36 KJV - "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."

There will be consequences for those who do not watch.

Luke 12:45-46 KJV - "45 But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken; 46 The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers." (Matthew 24:48-51)

Revelation 3:3 KJV - "Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee."