The Watching Of The Saints: “Watch Thou?”

1Co 16:13  Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. 

1Co 16:14  Let all your things be done with charity. 

1Co 16:15  I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,) 

1Co 16:16  That ye submit yourselves unto such, and to every one that helpeth with us, and laboureth. 

Oftentimes, our reasoning for not desiring to “put on the armor of light” doesn’t seem as though it would come from the idea that we would just rather do something else; but in reality, that is what it ‘boils down’ to in the end. The heart of the man will allow himself to have a “spirit of fear,” he can have a ‘willing spirit, but a weak flesh.’ And in order to “make full proof” of his ministry, Timothy had to get his heart and mind involved! That’s why Paul exhorted timothy to “stir up” something he already knew! That’s why Paul exhorted Timothy to “watch THOU,” in other words; watch himself, and that Timothy himself is the ‘first order of business’ so to speak, and we too ought to know it is the “watching” of ourselves that the saint ALSO has to address. And many of us who balk at “drinking of that Cup,” can be as Timothy, and the Philippians, and as the Apostles, we too can be “offended of” Him, we might be in denial about it though, just like the Apostles, who saw the Lord first hand, just like the Apostles who were taught by Him first hand, just like the Apostles Who walked with Him first hand, just like the Apostles who were “with Him in” His temptations! And our watching of ourselves consists of our “watching thereunto” our inner man that our Father has begun a work in by the doctrine which is according to godliness.

Mar 14:37  And he cometh, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, Simon, sleepest thou? couldest not thou watch one hour? 

Mar 14:38  Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak. 

Mar 14:39  And again he went away, and prayed, and spake the same words. 

Mar 14:40  And when he returned, he found them asleep again, (for their eyes were heavy,) neither wist they what to answer him. 

Mar 14:41  And he cometh the third time, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: it is enough, the hour is come; behold, the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 

 Furthermore, the Lord said that the Spirit of Truth will “bring all things into THEIR “remembrance” concerning what needed to be “put on,” or that they were to operate upon His love, and to stir up within their Hearts His life and the Father’s will, they needed to “enlarge” their hearts, they needed to gain the KEY INGREDINT to being what He called them to be. And the Spirit Of Truth gave them the comforting doctrine, the Word of God gave them the “reality” of what their affection ought to be placed upon, the word of God showed them that they too ‘must suffer to reign’ “with Him.” The glory of the Lord’s sufferings is something that the Father gets glory in, when His Word is “justified” as being what He designed it to be. He designed it to work in that capacity among the saints, but we only see the Word for the benefit of only just getting people saved. And that is not the ‘only’ purpose for His Word, His Word is written to the Saints! And there are sufferings of our flesh as Saints that will hinder us from operating upon the doctrine which is according to godliness. And these sufferings below work against us as a “living sacrifice” unto God because we desire to ‘protect’ our emotions and our flesh from any type of affliction and pain, especially if it does not benefit our flesh, or our will. Because we will go through the things listed below if we ourselves have something to gain, or benefit by our sacrifice in partaking of those things for our flesh and heart’s sake.

1.         FEAR

2.        BEING ASHAMED

3.        BEING OFFENDED

4.        SUFFERINGS

2Co 6:4  But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, 

2Co 6:5  In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings; 

2Co 6:6  By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, 

Therefore, our Lord taught his apostles that if they loved him they will suffer, but not just love them as the world loves, but they would love with a love that is exclusive. There would be no greater love then this type of love whereas a man would lay down his life for another, this love is selfless. And as Paul says in the verses above, the “unfeigned love,” and our suffering for Christ’s sake involves the son NOT being ashamed, NOT being offended, NOT having the spirit of fear, and being “partakers of the afflictions” for Christ’s sake. And notice what Paul is going to say in the verses below, Paul is teaching Timothy about making full proof of his ministry, and he’s warning him about those that will not endure sound doctrine, and that they will be turned unto fables, and they shall turn their ears away from the truth. Paul is desiring that Timothy also ‘watch unto’ himself, and that he would no longer have the spirit of fear, but the spirit of power, and of love, and of a pure heart. And ‘watching thou’ means that Paul desires that Timothy ‘watches himself’ in all things, meaning that he would ‘stand watch,’ and ‘keep himself’ in godliness. And it is by the Word of God that the son is to “stand” in, not based upon his emotions, or in fear that his flesh will face ridicule, opposition, or afflictions for the ministry’s sake.

2Ti 4:5  But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

2Ti 4:6  For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.

2Ti 4:7  I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

2Ti 4:8  Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

Moreover, we live in the “perilous times” that the Apostle Paul refers to as the ‘times’ when men are going to be “lovers of their own self,” and part of being lovers of our own selves has the men of this world ‘watching themselves, which is ‘protecting’ themselves from facing the sufferings for Christ’s sake. This is what Paul was teaching Timothy his “son in the faith” about being “partaker of the afflictions of the gospel.” And in stead of ‘looking out’ for themselves in avoiding anything to do with suffering for Christ’s sake, but notice that right after Paul says, “but watch thou in all things” he says, “endure afflictions.” But today’s religious system teaches, ‘watch out for yourselves, God will also watch out for you, and protect your flesh from the sufferings of this world.’ But that is actually an ungodly way of thinking in these perilous times. But it is by operating upon Christ’s selfless love that the son desires to be a living sacrifice. Now the question is, are all saints going to receive “a crown of righteousness” that Paul says that he, and “all them also that love His appearing” will receive?

1Th 5:4  But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. 

1Th 5:5  Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. 

1Th 5:6  Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. 

1Th 5:7  For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. 

1Th 5:8  But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. 

Finally, Paul as a faithful and “good soldier” of the Lord says, “I am now ready to be offered,” now ready? This was his last epistle, the Holy Ghost was finishing giving unto him the word of truth. And those who love his appearing will not be those who are “ashamed,” or “offended in him,” or possessing a “spirit of fear,” or not having “enlarged” their hearts, if this was not the case, Paul would not have to use the word “love” in the verse concerning the idea that we should have, or not have a response to his appearing! And as Paul refers to the Lord as the “righteous judge” is talked about when a crown given to them who love his appearing, but why does judging come into the verse? This is about the “crown” and reigning with Him as a faithful son, and they who are “not sleep as do others;” but as those who “watch and be sober” minded. And as the Lord educated His Apostles before he was betrayed, He was educating them to preach Him crucified, and bring forth much fruit, but He also taught them that they will be hated for His name, and they will be also persecuted for His sake. And their ’watching’ was for the being “tempted” by this world, and watching unto themselves with the affections and lusts of the flesh, the servant and soldier of the Lord should operate upon a selfless love that is exclusive, and not self willed, but this is the difference between carnal minded thinking of the men of this world who are in “darkness,” and the Spiritual minded sons who understand and appreciate ‘who’ they are watching thereunto for Christ’s sake.

Mat 26:38  Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. 

Mat 26:39  And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. 

Mat 26:40  And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? 

Mat 26:41  Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. 

Rod Jones