The Watch of the LORD

II Chronicles 23:6 But let no one come into the house of the Lord except the priests and those of the Levites who serve. They may go in, for they are holy; but all the people shall keep the watch of the Lord. 

II Chronicles 23:6 No one is to enter the temple of the Lord except the priests and Levites on duty; they may enter because they are consecrated, but all the others are to observe the Lord’s command not to enter. 

guard, function, obligation, service, watch

house of detention or confinement

keeping, preserving

charge, injunction

office, 

(ceremonial)

jail, prison, guard-house

guard, guard post, act of guarding

observance

The spiritual leaders could enter the temple to do their duties. All the other men were to keep watch, be on guard.

Jesus told us about these last days to be on our watch. Mark 13.37

to watch

metaph. give strict attention to, be cautious, active

to take heed lest through remission and indolence some destructive calamity suddenly overtake one

to arouse, cause to rise

to arouse from sleep, to awake

to arouse from the sleep of death, to recall the dead to life

to cause to rise from a seat or bed etc.

to raise up, produce, cause to appear

to cause to appear, bring before the public

to raise up, stir up, against one

 i.e. cause to be born

of buildings, to raise up, construct, erect

Paul admonishes us in Romans 13:11-14 And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh. 

We must be on our watch! We need to keep the LORD's Watch!

We get on public transportation today, LIRR,  the Subway, Cross Sound Ferry and you will hear this announcement,"If you see anything suspicious, a bag left alone, or hear anything, please contact an official..."

This Watch of the LORD is similar yet different. We need to be spiritually vigilant. Yet God sees all. The watch is for our benefit and those we love.

1. Take to Heart These Words we just read.

Many are asleep in the light.

If we have fallen asleep we need to wake up:

* Prayer is a good indicator of our spiriual life. 

What we are praying.

When we pray.

How we pray.

William Booth's one word telegram: Others.

Others are in danger of becoming weary in doing good.

When it comes to matters of the LORD are we dragging, dreading?

God is looking for us to be passionate in these last days.

Staying alert.

1 Peter 5:8-9 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. 

Passionate is about resisting the devil and standing firm in the faith.

James 4:7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 

Let's pray for the sake of our children and grandchildren.

2.  When you wake up in the middle of the night- Pray!

The LORD may be waking you up.

We are to pray always.

Quiet, good time to pray.

Lift to the LORD what  and who He brings to mind.

There are those...Psalm 134:1-2 Praise the Lord, all you servants of the Lord who minister by night in the house of the Lord. Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and praise the Lord. 

3. We need to pray for our nation and the things which are to come.

Economic Earthquake

Drone Attacks

Terrorist Threats

Spiritual Decline

Moral Confusion

May God use these things to wake us up!

May God give us a nationwide revival. May churches be renewed and communities touched deeply.

4. We need to remember what ultimately we are watching for.

Mark 13

Mark 13:5 Jesus said to them: “Watch out that no one deceives you."

Luke 21:34-36 “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap. For it will come on all those who live on the face of the whole earth. Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.” 

Mark 13:32-37 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come. It’s like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with their assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch. “Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back—whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’”