† Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

† Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

† Matthew 28:20 Teaching them to observe (a watch, to guard, keep an eye on, fulfill) all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world (age) Amen.

As a Teacher of God’s Word As a teacher of God’s Word set forth in the year 1977, as you’ve heard from † Matthew 28:20, I am to teach you to observe (fulfill) all things Jesus has commanded of us. Although this theme is really a good description of what I am always about when I stand before you and one we could continue to reference, after today’s lesson I may stop referring to the “taking for granted” theme but the spirit of that thought will always be the undercurrent of what I share with you each week. What Jesus taught is for all His followers from the first century forward but what we are looking at in this discussion today (although wise for believers at any time since the 1st century) is most important for you and me in these last days. What Jesus spoke were and continue to be the very mind of God for us and to be considered as commands to live by. There is a serious danger for Christians in this last age because most don’t know the Word, or worse still, are familiar with what it says but do not walk in obedience to it. Knowing what today’s specific sub-topic was about, as usual I went and began compiling the references to the Lord’s commands about “watching”, which we will cover today. What was interesting to me was that at the last I was led to the passage we just opened with, which word “observe” is from a different Greek word that also means to “watch”. I hope that you understand that the Holy Spirit is giving us a serious warning in what He has given me to present to you today. Jesus warned us as His followers, and most especially for those living in this last age culminating with His literal return to the earth as a Lion and not a Lamb, [Jesus warned us] to be watchful.

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• [Gr. grēgoreō: to keep awake, i.e. watch (literal or figurative): be vigilant, [be/stay] [a]wake, (be) watch (-ful).]

† Mark 13:28 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When her branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is near: 29 So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come to pass, know that it is nigh, even at the doors. 30 Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done. 31 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. 32 But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. 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 aut hority 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: 36 Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. 37 And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.

WATCH - STAY AWAKE Watch—stay awake, guard yourself against the spiritual dangers of a dark and sinful physical world. Last week we looked at the parable of the sower and His seed, which is the Word of God, and specifically at † Luke 8:14, Jesus warned His followers of something that must be guarded against: Being “choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life.” I stated this: “our brothers and sisters in Christ today have more thorny weeds strangling their spiritual lives than at any time in the last 2000 years that the church has been on the earth. Cares can be the responsibilities and ambitions that have entangled, constrict and overshadow the hearts of many, and block out the Son-light of the life of Jesus. Striving for success, possessions and wealth squeeze out the priority needed to read or hear and then nurture by obedience the seeds of God’s Word. And for 21st century believers pleasures have seized any time that should be used to cultivate fruit-bearing spiritual growth” and therefore, most of His true followers are failing at this command: The command to “watch!”

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† 1 Corinthians 16:13 Watch ye (keep awake), stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.

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What do the Scriptures warn us are things to be on guard against, to keep on the look-out for by the word “watch”?

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† Matthew 26:40 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.

• Not paying attention to available spiritual awareness by yielding to the flesh

† Luke 21:34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged (weighed down) with surfeiting (‘sur-fuht-ing’: headaches from drunkenness, to gorge oneself, indulge in something in excess), and drunkenness (intoxicated), and cares (distractions) 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. 36 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.

• One’s participation to intoxication involving the cares and pleasures of this world and not the kingdom of God’s

†1 Peter 5:8 Be sober (nepho: abstain…, watch), be vigilant (gray-gor-yoo'-o: to keep awake, watch); 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.

• All works and passions of the flesh and little or nothing of a spiritual life

† Revelation 3:1 And unto the angel of the church in Sardis (birthplace of coinage, the riches and joy of power) write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. 2 Be watchful (gray-gor-yoo'-o), and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. 3 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.

• A weak spiritual stand, the Word heard but not done, imperfect works

† Revelation 16:15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth (gray-gor-yoo'-o), and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.

† Revelation 3:17 ...thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: 18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see [spiritually and to watch]. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

• Being found naked before the Lord, lacking His garments of righteousness

The End Of Days !!! Dear ones, we literally live in what the Bible has forewarned all believers of for more than 2000 years—the end of days! Jesus said to us at † Matthew 24:21-22 “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.” What else are we to know and practice regarding the command of Jesus to be watchful?

† Ephesians 6:17 ...And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints…

† 1 Thessalonians 5:1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. 2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. 4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. 5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. 7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. 8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. 9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ…

† Matthew 25:1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. 2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: 4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. 6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. 7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. 9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. 10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. 11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. 12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. 13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

The Issue In The Parable Is This The issue in this parable is this: It can easily be seen by those of us that are spiritually sober and watching that there are two groups in the church camp—those that are wise by the Holy Scriptures and those that are foolish about their being saved. I and so few others today are saying, “Jesus is coming soon, ready yourself with all seriousness”, read His Word, talk daily to Him, walk in obedience to all the commands of the Lord”—but so many allow the fire of their lives to die-down and even go out and they find themselves in the dark and spiritually cold—not even lukewarm but backslidden.

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( The last aspect to be covered is this )

There-fore! The last aspect to be covered is this: What are we to be looking at, paying attention to, being watchful of? This is a personal responsibility for each believer.

Watch yourself: Look at yourself; how are you living each day—as a true follower of Jesus Christ, as a part-time Christian, or a Christian in name and religious affiliation only but you really do not know Jesus and He does not know you?

Watch others: Spend time with those that are devoted to Jesus, hear what they say, and see what they do as they come to better and better know Jesus and He them and then you do the things they do.

Watch events: The Lord and His New Testament writers have told us what the signs of His coming are and we are to watch for them and keep oil in our lamps and prepare ourselves to literally meet Him.

To take for granted (to live like you can do whatever you like without any consequences of what you have been warned to do; to underestimate the importance of the command of Jesus and what He expects of you) is to stand outside the door of His promise of protection and deliverance—and could include hearing the words, “I never knew you”.

I will not stand outside that grace—will you?

These last verses more specifically spoken for the benefit of Christians living in the days before His return will be the results of obedience—or spiritual slothfulness and laziness toward God. I will not stand outside that grace—will you?

These last verses specifically spoken for the benefit of Christians living in the days before His return will be the results of obedience—or slothfulness: