The Secret of Watching

Jesus connected prayerfulness with vigilant watching. Twice He told His disciples, “‘Watch and pray’” (Mark 13:33; 14:38). So there’s something about prayer that is wide-eyed, attentive, and on full mental alert. In the secret place, we do not hide from cur- rent events like an ostrich burying its head in the sand; rather, we bring our awareness of current events to the searching lamp of the Scriptures and the Spirit of God.

Jesus’ exhortations to watch were especially connected to His return to earth.

“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 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 door- keeper 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—lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!” (Mark 13:32-37).

The Secret of Watching

Without a doubt, this is one of Jesus’ most gripping and urgent exhortations. He couldn’t have made His message clearer. He was heralding believers of all time to constant, vigilant, bright-eyed alertness. And the focus of our alertness is that we be found watching when our Lord returns.

One pastor was asked how many people come to his church. He replied, “Oh, we sleep 800.” Sadly, far too many believers are asleep in this the most momentous hour of human history.

The Lord never placed on us the burden of seeing into the future. He does call us, though, to be alert to the hour in which we live and to discern the signs of our times. He expects us to have understanding and awareness concerning today.

I know of only one way to fulfill this urgent mandate: through attentive application to the secret place. It’s in the secret place that:

• We sharpen our spiritual senses to heaven’s prompt- ings;

• We interpret current events through the lens of God’s word;

• We make note of those portions and themes of Scripture which the Spirit has been currently surfacing;

• We constantly calibrate our souls and minds to the straight ways of the Lord;

• We quiet our hearts long enough to listen;

• We gaze with rapt attention upon the throne of God;

• We throw off all spiritual sleepiness by being ignited and renewed in love.

One of the important words of this hour is the word “discern- ment.” Jesus wants us to be alert and able to discern the signs of the times. Discernment will be cultivated, not by reading the morning newspaper, but by reading God’s word. We gain discern- ment only through the power of the Holy Spirit (Philippians 1:9). Those who stand at attention in the secret place will carry the wisdom to discern the mystery of iniquity and the mystery of godliness in the earth today.

There are times in my secret place when I put everything else

Secrets of the Secret Place

aside, such as my reading or requests, and just pause to ask this question, “Lord, what are You doing in the earth today? What themes are You emphasizing right now? Among which groups of people are You moving in an unusual way? What do You want me to see concerning the day and hour in which I live? What is my role in Your present activities?” Then I wait upon Him for insight and understanding. Oh, how my heart longs to be fully alert and engaged with the things that are on God’s heart for this present hour!

“‘Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches’” (Revelation 16:15). When a thief visits, he will often give off small signals of his presence—the turning of a latch, the sound of a foot- step, bumping into an unseen object, etc. In a similar way, there well may be subtle signs to Christ’s coming which only the alert will notice. Those who watch, if they are attentive, may actually discern the sounds of Christ’s coming. What a blessing it would be to be found on active duty and alert at His coming!

“Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning; and you yourselves be like men who wait for their master, when he will return from the wedding, that when he comes and knocks they may open to him immediately. Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching. Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them. And if he should come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect” (Luke 12:35-40).

The secret place is the place to fulfill these words of Christ. There is no replacement or alternative. It’s in the garden with your Lord that you gird your waist for immediate action, and that you trim your lamps until they burn with flaming passion. Do not sleep, but watch and pray. It’s the great secret to being ready for the imminent return of the Lover of your soul.

Part II

Making It Work

Дата добавления: 2015-10-23