Matthew 26:41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
What does it mean to watch?
The Greek word means to keep wake; watch. It can be used in the physical, moral and spiritual sense. It denotes gibing careful attention and mindfulness in the face of danger keeping from drowsiness. The Hebrew word means hedge about with thorns to protect.
Examples of watching:
The shepherd is responsible for watching his sheep. The shepherd would build an enclosure of stones of thorns and then leave an opening for a door. He would position himself at the opening acting as a door. This is the illustration Jesus gave for His shepherd.
Job watched out for his children. When they would celebrate their birthdays the sons would invite their sisters but it seems Job was not invited. But Job prayed for them and interceded on their behalf. Even the devil acknowledged there was a hedge about them.
God thru Ezekiel declared He was looking for someone to watch over Israel in their apostasy. He said He was looking for someone to stand in the gap and fill up the hedge.
Adam was told to keep (same word as watch) the garden. He was to be on guard against evil and trouble that might enter the garden.
Watching and praying:
On the night of Christ’s arrest, He went to the mount to pray. He took His disciples with Him and left the eight at one place then took Peter, James and John on further and asked them to watch Matthew 26:38 Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. Jesus went a little further and prayed for about an hour and returned only to find the three asleep. This occurred three times and then He was arrested.
It is during these time agonizing watching that we interact with the Holy Spirit and He makes intercession for us — Romans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. We are not really petitioning God but we are waiting or the subject/person/ circumstance we are burdened from and the Spirit helps our agonizing. If Peter had watched as Jesus asked him, he may not have caved under pressure and denied Jesus.
What does watching involve?
To watch is to be silent before the Lord and when He brings thigs to our attention we are to earnestly pray about them.
During these times we will engage in spiritual watfare and, as Paul instructs, we are to be strong in the Lord and the power of His might.
Watching involves confrontation with principalities and power of darkness. This ype watching will endure for seasons and may be the outcome of someone’s soul’s destiny.
The goal of watching and praying is to withstand the enemy and his wiles and works in the lives of people. This may be individuals or groups or even nations. God said thru Ezekiel He looked for someone to stand in the gap and fill up the hedge (watch for His people) but he found none.
Wgat are we to watch and pray for?
There are many things but some are: grievous wolves, those who creep into churches to subvert true doctrine, that leaders will be strong in the faith that missionaries will have open doors and provisions, for the awakening of saints to Christ and the present time, for revival and awakening of the church.
It is hard to watch:
When we pray before God in our prayer time we keep the conversation going, but in watching it is primarily waiting in silence before God and allowing Him to speak and bring what He wants to our minds. The activities of the day – past, present and future – abound in our thinking and must be shut out in order to watch properly.
Job’s watching seems to have been effective for when God restored him He promised double and Job only had 10 more children – apparently God counted him having ten already in heave.
