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from The Prayerline Newsletter by Darrell C. Porter

"Watch & Pray"

July - September, 2010

The wayward deer ambles through its familiar woodlands, and casually strolls onto the dark country road. Quickly it raises its head into a strange beam of bright light. Then suddenly it's cut down. Like that hapless deer, millions of unwary people will be cut down by the fast-moving lights of the world in these last days. These are the mesmerizing lights of violence and disaster. They are fast moving and anchored in the iron of sin and sorrow.

No eye caught up in these lights, and paralyzed, will be saved. Like the wayward deer, they will be cut down.

Oddly, there are many who do not recognize the sounds of the fast moving vehicles of destruction. Inattentive, like the deer, they amble about their way as though the land was all theirs, ignoring the easement, the highway, through their personal world.

The Bible says that mankind, in the last days, will be like that careless deer. They will go about their affairs without care. (cf. Lu.17:27) They will stay their ways as if the world is theirs. Little notice will be regarded for the powerful forces moving rapidly in their direction, and ready to mow down anything in their path.

"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." (1Th 5:3)
These biblical warnings, are they given for nothing? Consider how they were given to Pharaoh in Egypt, (Exod.8:1-4) repeatedly given to Israel, (Jer.13:13-22) to the churches (Rev.2:1-3:21) and out to the world? (Isa.34:2-10)

The Bible tells us two simple things. Watch and Pray. (Matt.26:41)

If the deer had learned to watch before he crossed, he would have still been alive. One says, but that's just a deer. You can't expect that much sense from a deer, can you?

Take note of what God calls His own people. He calls them sheep. (Jn.10:14) Having been around many sheep some ministers go so far as to call them, dumb sheep. To these dumb sheep God issues His direct command. "Watch and pray." (Matt.26:41)

The sheep of God should be aware of what's going on in the world around them, and be alert. They should know that everyone is not a sheep. They don't act like sheep. Many don't even like sheep. They want nothing to do with God or His Word. The very ground upon which they walk is different than the ground of the sheep. Sheep honor God's unchanging truths and stand on it. Others stand on different ground, sandy and shifting, with nothing solid underneath. Yet their lifeless ground runs through the land of the sheep. They have taken up right to run through sheep land and seize privileges and powers over it. To them the world is their personal possession and God's people are their tenants. The rights of sheep are subject to the owners of shifting lands.

THE BIBLE HAS WARNED US. This world is not our home. We are simply pilgrims passing through it. (Heb. 11:13; 1Pet. 2:11) It points out that evil overseer, who currently (and temporarily) manipulates the affairs of this world. Paul described this fallen being as "the god of this world." (2Co 4:4)

We are warned to be wary of the ways of this little g "god" and be alert to his antics. Paul obviously taught the early Church on this matter, as he reminded them that, "we are not ignorant of his devices." (2Co 2:11) Just like the deer crossing the road, God's sheep should be alert, lest he is mowed down by the devil and his machine.
I, personally, fell onto this lesson years ago as a baby Christian. In fact I was like one mowed down like a deer. I was living in Pasadena, California where I had just gotten saved a few months earlier. It was a happy day. I was backing out of my driveway, just praising God for His goodness, with heartfelt praises and thanksgiving - being really caught up in His presence. And bam! I backed into an unseen car. I was shocked. I was baffled. How could this have happened?! I was just praising God and enjoying His presence. I was undone. For the rest of my life I knew two things. I knew I had been in the presence of my LORD, praising Him. I also knew I backed into a car without looking. Certainly I was in prayer; but I wasn't watching. I was in the Spirit; but had closed my eyes to the world I was also in.

For years I thought it so odd that the LORD did not save me from that accident; until this writing. As He led me to write this article it grew on me the vital importance of staying alert to things natural as well as things spiritual. Heaven is our home. Yes. But the world is not. We are pilgrims passing through... strangers in a strange land. (cf. Ex.2:21-22) We cannot close our eyes thinking that all is well. We can never believe in this world, nor the things of the world. Only in Christ can we place our trust.

Jesus was in the world, yet ever abiding in heaven. " And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven." (Joh 3:13)

Jesus lived on earth, yet remained in the Spirit of His Father at the same time. He was aware of things around Him but never caught up in them. He watched and yet continued in communion with heaven.

I learned that, like the deer, my mind was peaceful in the presence of God yet tuned off to things around me.

Such peace does not abide in the world, nor do men pursue it. Those who seek to live in peace often do so at their own peril; for the world is violent. It is filled with all that is opposite of God. Still, God's sheep are commanded to abide in peace, (Jo.13:34) while also realizing that this world stands against peace. Wherever peace arises the wicked seek to destroy it. Nevertheless we must be vigilant in our watch over what God has given us as well as being aware of the roar of madness that rushes against us.

DANIEL WAS A MAN OF PEACE AND ALSO OF PRAYER. He prayed three times a day, everyday. Yet the rabid dogs of envy, spite and violence sought tenaciously to mow him down. They set their "headlights" on him to paralyze his mind. Yet he knew what they were up to and wouldn't be brought under their spell. He would not stop to stare at them. Instead he kept his eye on God, and continued to move forward. (Dan. 6:10-12) His enemies hurried to mow him down; but they missed. (Dan.6:15-23) Instead it was they who perished. (Dan.6:24) Daniel lived because he knew what was coming at him. He stay the course of faith and refused to be caught up in the "headlights" of hell.

Though we are all elevated by our own ideal images of our world the harshness of life often crashes down on us. We are caught off guard, dumb-founded. What? Was God not there? We wonder. Oh yes, He was there. The only thing is, we erred by thinking that the trust we had for God could also be placed in the world. It cannot! The carnal world is run amuck by another - that dark prince, the devil, who is called "the god of this world." (2Co 4:4) The spirit of this little g "god" scurries about working feverishly in the minds of both deceivers and the deceived. (2Tim.3:13)

THE REMEDY? REMAIN WATCHFUL UNTO PRAYER. Yet as we pray and experience the uplifting Spirit of God, we must also stay alert to "that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan" (Re 12:9) who "as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." (1Pe 5:8)

Just because you do good does not mean good will always come back to you right away. Your instant reward may well be betrayal, envy and strife. Paul was mystified by these frequent injustices, to the point that he wrote, "I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me." (Ro 7:21)

He realized he could not expect gratitude and support every time he did good. Neither can you. Yet we must do what the Scriptures command, and be vigilant and sober in our watch. (1Pet.4:7)

The LORD assured Jeremiah that He watches over His word to perform it. (Jer. 1:12) Indeed one of His very Names is El Roi - the God Who sees. "And she called the name of the LORD that spake unto her, Thou God seest me: for she said, Have I also here looked after him that seeth me?" (Gen.16:13)

God sees you and even knows the number of hairs on your head. (Matt.10:30) He watches, then speaks. His angels came down to observe Sodom and Gomorrah before its destruction. "And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous; I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know." (Gen.18:20-21) God watched. He observed. Then He acted.

Our life is filled with things that require our dutiful attention. A husband must watch over his wife and household. Parents their children. Ministers their flock. Employers their staff. We must observe, see what is going on. Watch! And pray.

The Scriptures reprimand us for not knowing "what we should pray for as we ought." (Rom.8:26) For if we were alert to things around us as well as to the leadership of God's Holy Spirit then we would know more surely for what to pray. Though I pray for my family each day yet I can pray amiss when I loose touch with where they really are. In many ways we all pray amiss. We need to care about things around us. Then can the Holy Spirit help us more to pray as we ought to pray. We cannot shut our eyes to all things we don't want to see. Or else how can we bring God into those things by prayer?

THE LORD INTENDS THAT WE WATCH. "Watch ye therefore, and pray always." (Lu 21:36) This way we will better know how to approach Him in prayer.
Through His prophet, Ezekiel, God reprimanded both the nations of Judah and Israel, saying they had eyes but could not see. (Jer.5:21) They had positions of spiritual privilege but did not use it well or even look for God's will, nor did they give attention to where they were going. Much worse than that single deer these religious leaders had flocks following them right onto death's highways. Jesus asked, "Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch?" (Lu.6:39)

Are not the Scriptures clear? We must be keen eyed to our leaders, both natural and spiritual, to make sure we all know where we're going. The apostle Paul did not consider himself exempt from scrutiny. He instructed God's sheep to "Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. (1Co 11:1) In other words, pay attention to what I do and what I say, so you will know where you're going. Watch me. If I do not that which is of Christ then don't follow me. We must pay strict attention to everything; and pray accordingly.

God's Word"is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path." (Ps.119:105) It has been written and preserved to help us to watch where we are going. By keeping an eye on the light of God's Truth you will be sure to move in the right direction. Yet if you turn away from the written Word, to the distractions of the world, you are open to be paralyzed by the mesmerizing lights of hell. Watch, the Bible say, and pray.

It is a good habit, before every prayer, to quiet the heart, be still and know that He is God. (Ps.46:10) Enter His presence first, with praise and thanksgiving for Who He is and what He has already done. Then let Him guide you in lifting up your petition in prayer. He wants you to pray.

A precious friend of my wife and I, Beverly, had taken seriously ill recently. While visiting her in the hospital she excitedly told me that the LORD Jesus had spoken to her shortly after her sudden sickness, and said:

"Expect nothing from anyone; and everything from Me; and you will not be offended."

His instruction? Look to Him for EVERYTHING. Look not to man but to the LORD.

Dear saint of God, in the dark days of this present world be all the more watchful. Yes indeed the LORD is your friend. Yet the world is not. It lies on shaky ground and cannot be trusted. It is deceived and stands ready to deceive you. Lurking in pleasant and cordial settings are many things harmful. Even still there are many wonderful people everywhere. Yet watch what you do and with whom you do it. Watch your step. Keep your eyes on the Lord Jesus and His holy Word. Stay with God, like Daniel did, when you are tested; and like Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Paul; like Job, Esther and Stephen; like John, Deborah and Enoch. "Neither give place to the devil." (Eph 4:27)

Anything you give over to the enemy of your soul becomes his to keep; and he will keep it till the day you die if the LORD does not deliver it back to you.
John Bunyan, in his classic tale, "Pilgrim's Progress", wrote, "we are pilgrims in this present world, strangers in a strange land. Therefore be circumspect (consider your surroundings) in your dealings with this world. Stay earnest and committed to Christ." For "the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer." (1Pe 4:7)

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The PRAYERLINE Newsletter is a quarterly publication of Darrell C. Porter Evangelistic Assoc., Inc.

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