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Watchfulness.

From: The New Topical Textbook

By: Reuben Archer Torrey

• 1 min. read • grade level: 14

Christ an example of. Matt. 26:38, 40³⁸Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. (Matthew 26:38)
⁴⁰And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? (Matthew 26:40). Luke 6:12¹²And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. (Luke 6:12).

Commanded. Mar. 13:37. Rev. 3:2²Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. (Revelation 3:2).

Exhortations to. 1 The. 5:6. 1 Peter 4:7⁷But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. (1 Peter 4:7).

God especially requires in ministers. Ezek. 3:17¹⁷Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me. (Ezekiel 3:17), with Isa. 62:6⁶I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the Lord, keep not silence, (Isaiah 62:6). Mar. 13:34.

Ministers exhorted to. Acts 20:31³¹Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. (Acts 20:31). 2 Tim. 4:5⁵But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. (2 Timothy 4:5).

Faithful ministers exercise. Heb. 13:17¹⁷Obey 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. (Hebrews 13:17).

Faithful ministers approved by. Matt. 24:45, 46⁴⁵Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? ⁴⁶Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. (Matthew 24:45‑46). Luke 12:41-44⁴¹Then Peter said unto him, Lord, speakest thou this parable unto us, or even to all? ⁴²And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season? ⁴³Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. ⁴⁴Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath. (Luke 12:41‑44).

SHOULD BE

With prayer. Luke 21:36³⁶Watch 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. (Luke 21:36). Eph. 6:18¹⁸Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; (Ephesians 6:18).

With thanksgiving. Col. 4:2²Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; (Colossians 4:2).

With steadfastness in the faith. 1 Cor. 16:13¹³Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. (1 Corinthians 16:13).

With heedfulness. Mar. 13:33.

With sobriety. 1 Thess. 5:6⁶Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. (1 Thessalonians 5:6). 1 Pet. 4:7⁷But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. (1 Peter 4:7).

At all times. Prov. 8:34³⁴Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. (Proverbs 8:34).

In all things. 2 Tim. 4:5⁵But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. (2 Timothy 4:5).

Saints pray to be kept in a state of. Psa. 141:3³Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips. (Psalm 141:3).

MOTIVES TO;

Expected direction from God. Hab. 2:1¹I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved. (Habakkuk 2:1).

Uncertain time of the coming of Christ. Matt. 24:42⁴²Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. (Matthew 24:42). Matt. 25:13¹³Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh. (Matthew 25:13). Mar. 13:35, 36.

Incessant assaults of the devil. 1 Peter 5:8⁸Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: (1 Peter 5:8).

Liability to temptation. Matt. 26:41⁴¹Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. (Matthew 26:41).

Blessedness of. Luke 12:37³⁷Blessed 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. (Luke 12:37). Rev. 16:15¹⁵Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. (Revelation 16:15).

Unfaithful ministers devoid of. Isa. 56:10¹⁰His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. (Isaiah 56:10).

The wicked averse to. 1 Thess. 5:7⁷For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. (1 Thessalonians 5:7).

Danger of remissness in. Matt. 24:48 -51⁴⁸But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; ⁴⁹And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; ⁵⁰The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, ⁵¹And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 24:48‑51). Matt. 25:5, 8, 12⁵While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. (Matthew 25:5)
⁸And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. (Matthew 25:8)
¹²But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. (Matthew 25:12). Rev. 3:3³Remember 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. (Revelation 3:3).

Illustrated. Luke 12:35, 36³⁵Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; ³⁶And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. (Luke 12:35‑36). Exemplified. David, Psa. 102:7⁷I watch, and am as a sparrow alone upon the house top. (Psalm 102:7).

Anna, Luke 2:37³⁷And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. (Luke 2:37). Paid, 2 Cor. 11:27²⁷In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. (2 Corinthians 11:27).

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The New Topical Textbook

• Waiting Upon God.

• Warfare of Saints.

• Watchfulness.

• Wave-Offering.

• Wicked, the, Are Compared to.

• Wisdom of God, the.

• Witness of the Holy Ghost.

• Works, Good.