In a time of great turmoil--8 points for survival!
As the last point sums up, “lastly, those who stay vigilant will be able to stay in courage and quiet confidence and not in fear and panic. ” Jesus Himself has demonstrated the power of courage and humility in prayers. Prayers are for the courageous. Jesus knew the turmoil ahead of time and how the disciples should be prepared.
Luke 21:34-36 “But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
Jesus urges His disciples to stay vigilant, be seriously watchful and prayerful at all times. The words that He had spoken to them in that fateful night in the Gethsemane Garden are still ringing in our ears. Has time changed since then? What does the Bible say? This is what we need to find out today.
We will find that being vigilant is not a dispensable chore. Instead, it is an essential foundational Biblical lifestyle required for discipleship. An effective ministry team combines boldness and vigilance like combining the pieces of armor together to form the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18). Take note that the apostle Paul specifically clarified who the enemies were in the book of Ephesians chapter six: 12 “For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.” And the weapons or armor of God are spiritual.
Here are the relevant Bible verses on the importance of staying watchful against the spiritual enemy:
Point#1. Watchfulness (together with prayerfulness) is a vigilance against temptation, and a spiritual weapon to use from our position of strength in Christ.
Matthew 26:41 Matthew 26:38 Matthew 26:40 Matthew 26:41 Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Stay here and watch with Me.” “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.”
Point#2. The enemy is EXTREMELY VIGILANT. They were watching Jesus for opportunities to accuse and get rid of Him. They sent their spies to follow Him everywhere and did not rest even after He was crucified, dead and buried.
Matthew 27:36 Sitting down, they kept watch over Him there.
Mark 3:2 So they watched Him closely, whether He would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse Him.
Luke 6:7 So the scribes and Pharisees watched Him closely, whether He would heal on the Sabbath, that they might find an accusation against Him.
Luke 14:1 Now it happened, as He went into the house of one of the rulers of the Pharisees to eat bread on the Sabbath, that they watched Him closely. Luke 20:20 So they watched Him, and sent spies who pretended to be righteous, that they might seize on His words, in order to deliver Him to the power and the authority of the governor.
Point#3. The disciples were never alone without protection. Jesus watched over His disciples. He observed how they handled the storm. He also observed how they responded to Him suddenly appearing, walking on the sea supernaturally.
Mark 6:48 Then He saw them straining at rowing, for the wind was against them. Now about the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea, and would have passed them by.
Point#4. Jesus also expected His disciples to be able to watch out for themselves: knowing ahead the perils they would face. KNOWING AHEAD WILL DISPEL FEAR. Jesus wants His disciples to have backbone!
Mark 13:9 “But watch out for yourselves, for they will deliver you up to councils, and you will be beaten in the synagogues. You will be brought before rulers and kings for My sake, for a testimony to them.
Point#5. Jesus warned that there would not be a certainty of the timing for His return and therefore requires continuous vigilance on the part of the disciples/believers. We will be required to give account based on our faithfulness in being vigilant while waiting. Accountability is reinforced by the uncertainty of the time each has to wait, before facing the music. Keep everyone on their toes instead of lethargy.
Mark 13:33-35 Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is. It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch. Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming—in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning—
Matthew 24:42-43 Matthew 25:13 Luke 12:37-39 Mark 13:37 And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!”
Point#6. Jesus taught His disciples that being vigilant was important for all members in a team, especially when facing an impending earth moving challenge like never before. They needed to build their supernatural spiritual stamina and not give in to their flesh later when Jesus was arrested, tried, and crucified. The Bible has repeatedly emphasized the strength in the unity (social support) of like-minded people. Jesus Himself has demonstrated this divine power in the unity of the Father God, the Son of God Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.
Mark 14:34, 37-38 Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch.” Then He came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “Simon, are you sleeping? Could you not watch one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Point#7. Jesus taught that being watchful/vigilant would give us spiritual insight and discernment and not walk by flesh and fall into the snares of the enemy. The vigilance will help us escape the trials that will come upon those who do not know Jesus. Note the activities that Jesus has warned against!
Luke 21:34-36 “But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
Point#8. Lastly, Those who stay vigilant will be able to stay in courage and quiet confidence and not in fear and panic. Note how certain women disciples stayed on after Jesus’ arrest all the way to the cross and even the tomb. By a simple persistent act of faith, they became powerful witnesses of His resurrection.
Luke 23:49 But all His acquaintances, and the women who followed Him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.
(Note: This post is a modified and expanded version of an article I originally posted in 2021 in another blog site. A lot of things have changed since then and my spirit prompted me to re-post with updates.)
2025-10-09
