Grace Fellowship       10/11/09        Prayer, Proclamation, and Prison, Pt.1     Colossians 4:2-4

CLICK HERE to listen to this sermon in MP3 audio.

Let’s read our text for today from Colossians, chapter 4, verses 2-4.

2 Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful (gregoreuo) in it with thanksgiving. 3 At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— 4 that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak. ¹

One of God’s most gracious gifts to mankind is the gift of sleep.  Some of us seem to enjoy that gift more than others.  I know a man (whether in the body or out of the body, I do not know), . . . who on one occasion enjoyed sleep so much that he almost walked out the back door of his house one night.  His brother stopped him.  I suppose that could have been a worst case scenario for the gift of sleep.

Sleep is so precious to us that the lack of sleep is dangerously debilitating.  Insomnia is an awful condition.  If we are deprived of sleep for just a short time, the affects are extremely unhealthy.  To intentionally deprive someone of sleep is so dangerous that it is used as a form of torture.  Dream-sleep, or what is sometimes referred to as “Rapid Eye Movement” (REM) sleep is necessary in order for us to be mentally and emotionally healthy. According to an article in ScienceDaily (Feb. 6, 2008) — “Four days' exposure to a REM sleep deprivation procedure reduces cell proliferation in the part of the forebrain that contributes to long-term memory of rats.” ²  It could have the same effect on humans.

As important as sleep is, too much sleep is a serious problem as well.  Sleep which leads to laziness sets the stage for catastrophe.  A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man (Proverbs 6:10-11).

Extremely serious consequences accompany what we might call spiritual sleepiness.  We read here in verse 2 Paul’s exhortation to the Colossians to be watchful in prayer.  Watchfulness in prayer is the opposite of spiritual sleepiness.  Now this may seem like a simple question, but how is one watchful in prayer?  Exactly what is it that the Colossians were to watch for when they prayed?  In 1 Corinthians 16:13 we read these words of instruction: Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Be watchful for what?  What is it that the Colossian and the Corinthian believers are supposed to be looking for?  What is this spiritual watchfulness that accompanies prayer?

We begin to understand what watch means as we look at how the word is used elsewhere in the Bible.  In Acts chapter 20, Paul exhorts the elders of the church at Ephesus with these words: Therefore be alert (i.e. watchful; same Greek word), remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish everyone with tears (Acts 20:31).  Apparently, this kind of watchfulness has something to do with sleeplessness.  Night and day Paul taught the Ephesian believers, watching over them like a guard in a tower through all the watches of the night.  Now that he was not going to be around any more, the Elders of that church were to follow his example of alertness, or watchfulness over those who were under their spiritual care.

The Greek word for watchfulness in prayer is found in many places in the New Testament.  It is used in contexts that speak of both physical and spiritual slumber.  The two conditions are actually connected.  Physical sleepiness leads to spiritual sleepiness.  Probably the most familiar passage that speaks of this is the Gospel of Mark, chapter 14.  Turn there with me so you can see what we’re talking about.

32 And they went to a place called Gethsemane. And he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” 33 And he took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be greatly distressed and troubled. 34 And he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death. Remain here and watch.”  35 And going a little farther, he fell on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. 36 And he said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” 37 And he came and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not watch one hour? 38 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 39 And again he went away and prayed, saying the same words. 40 And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy, and they did not know what to answer him. 41 And he came the third time and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? It is enough; the hour has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 42 Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.”

There is much in this brief text we need to pay attention to.  Four words should be highlighted: Watch, Pray, Sleep, and Betrayer.  In this instance, the apostles were physically fatigued, therefore they could not watch.  What was it that they should have watched for and prayed about?  Spiritual dangers, and in this case it was the betrayal of Jesus by Judas.  

This kind of watching is closely associated with prayer.  It’s hard to watch with your eyes closed, but you can pray that way.  But if you’re unconscious, you can’t watch or pray.  So, as Jesus prayed in the Garden just a few hours before His anticipated crucifixion, and as His disciples slept and did not watch or pray, Judas and the Roman soldiers approached.  They fell asleep at the watch.

I realize I can only speak hypothetically, but had they not slept, how might it have been different?  Had the disciples been in prayer, had they been habitually spiritually and physically watchful and alert in prayer, they might have been enabled to see Judas for who he was.  They might not have fallen to the temptation to desert the Lord Jesus in the hour of His betrayal. Obviously that was not God’s sovereign plan, but their carelessness in prayer serves as an example to us as to how we ought to conduct ourselves in prayer and in spiritual watchfulness.  We don’t know what kinds of things are going on around us in the spiritual realm.  Therefore we watch in prayer.

Does physical fatigue affect our spiritual lives?  These verses teach us that it does.  We see here that it can interfere with prayer.  And while the Scriptures tell us to pray without ceasing, we understand that we have to sleep sometime!  Even so, we see two things concerning watchfulness in the Garden of Gethsemane: The positive example of Jesus praying all night in spite of fatigue, and the negative example of the apostles sleeping on this particular occasion because of the weakness of the flesh.  We get the very clear sense that it is far better spiritually to watch and pray than to sleep.  

What does Paul mean, and what does Jesus mean when they use this word “watch”?  The word literally means the same thing it literally means in English: To watch, to be on the lookout for something.  But in the spiritual sense, it means, “to take heed lest through remission [relaxation] and indolence [laziness] some destructive calamity suddenly overtake one.” ³  It means to be on the lookout for those things that would harm us spiritually.  Neglecting prayer because of physical tiredness is bad enough.  But more than just fulfilling some sense of duty to pray, the neglect of watchful prayer leaves us vulnerable to spiritual dangers.  We cannot afford to be oblivious to the spiritual dangers that accompany this Christian life.  Naive prayerlessness makes us vulnerable to those dangers.

Look with me at 1 Thessalonians 5.

1 Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. 2 For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 4 But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. 5 For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. 6 So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake [i.e. watch] and be sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. 9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

Another word which we don’t hear very often that refers to this condition of watchfulness is the word “circumspect”.  Look around, be on guard, be aware, be watchful, be prepared spiritually for the day when our Master returns for us.  For those who are spiritually asleep, sudden destruction will come upon them . . . and they will not escape.  But we are to be sober, we are to exercise faith, love and hope, and look forward to the day when, whether we are [physically] awake or asleep we might live with him.  Spiritual laziness results in destruction for those who are not watching when the Lord Jesus returns.

My good friend, Chuck Spurgeon, had this to say about 1 Thessalonians 5:6.
“There are many that never watch. They never watch against sin; they never watch against the temptations of the enemy; they do not watch against themselves, nor against "the lusts of the flesh, the lusts of the eye, and the pride of life." They do not watch for opportunities to do good; they do not watch for opportunities to instruct the ignorant, to confirm the weak, to comfort the afflicted, to succor them that are in need; they do not watch for opportunities of glorifying Jesus, or for times of communion; they do not watch for the promises; they do not watch for answers to their prayers; they do not watch for the second coming of our Lord Jesus. These are the refuse of the world: they watch not because they are asleep. But let us watch: so shall we prove that we are not slumberers.” ⁴

Turn with me to Matthew 25.

1 “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom.  2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3 For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, 4 but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. 5 As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. 6 But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ 7 Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ 10 And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. 11 Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ 12 But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ 13 Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour. (Matthew 25:1-13)

In 1 Peter 5:8, the apostle warns his readers of the absolute necessity of being watchful in prayer.  
Be sober-minded; be watchful [KJV vigilant]. Why? Because, Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

I do not know how you pray at home.  I do not even know IF you pray at home.  I would certainly hope so.  But these passages should be enough of a warning to motivate us all, myself included, to more watchfulness, more vigilance in prayer.  It was because of sleep that the disciples didn’t see the Roman soldiers coming with Judas.  It was because of sleep that Saul did not know that David was in the cave with him and could have easily killed him.  It was because of sleep that General Sisera was killed by the woman, Jael, with a tent peg through his head!  It was because of sleep upon the lap of none other than that despicable woman Delilah that Samson had his eyes gouged out!  His lack of watchfulness resulted in his being unable to see anything at all.

Spiritual dangers, toils and snares abound.  The devil seeks to devour believers.  False teachers abound everywhere.  The enemies of the cross, and of Christ, and of His people will be with us until the final day.  And perhaps our greatest enemy is with each one of us perpetually: Our own fleshly lusts and desires.  There is plenty to be on guard against.  To neglect watchful prayer is to neglect our souls.

What were the Colossians supposed to be on the lookout for?  What were they to be in watchful prayer about?  What spiritual dangers threatened them?  The same things that threaten us.  But notice our text once again: Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.

Watchful in prayer with thanksgiving!  This watchfulness is not motivated by fear, but by wisdom.  We know we have enemies, but we also know that we are in Christ.  We are more than conquerers.  We watch on the one hand, and we rejoice on the other because of our salvation in the Lord Jesus.  So while the dangers are real, our position in Christ is secure.  But this security that is ours in the Lord Jesus is no licence to spiritual slumber and prayerlessness and carelessness and slothfulness.  

Do you watch?  Do you pray with your eyes open?  Do you pray as though we have enemies?  Because we do.  We do, individually and corporately.  The enemy of your soul is the enemy of our church.  To not be watchful in prayer is to put us all at risk of spiritual attack.  

What kinds of attack?  Well, let me ask you this: If, during the course of your life, you had been more watchful in prayer, more spiritually discerning, more circumspect and less sleepy in prayer, what kinds of woes might you have avoided?  I thought about this in regard to my own life, and about my own family.  If I had been more watchful, more careful, less naïve, more spiritually discerning in prayer, what kinds of suffering due to such carelessness might have passed me and my family by?  How has my family suffered spiritually because of my lack of careful, watchful prayer?

Listen to Paul’s words to the Ephesians:

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.

Put on the armor and pray.  Keep alert with all perseverance.  It’s not enough to just wear the armor.  We have to keep our spiritual eyes open!  There is an urgency in Paul’s voice as he says these things.  There is a battle to be fought.  We walk into the battle surrounded by an impenetrable armor because  we are in Christ.  We are more than conquerors.  We are declared to be overcomers in Christ.  And in this battle, in full armor, we watch and pray.

What army doesn’t have watchers?  Guards?  What man goes to battle and doesn’t watch for the enemy?  What war movie have you ever seen where at some point, somebody pulls out the binoculars or raises the periscope or looks down from the sky to put the enemy in the crosshairs?  Who fights with his eyes shut?  If we are not praying privately and together, we’re blind to the war around us.  We’re asleep in the midst of the battle.

This is a call to change.  This is a call to repentance from prayerlessness.  This is a call to a regular practice of prayer, for our own protection, for the sake of this body of believers, and for the sake of the kingdom.  Take this to heart.  You cannot afford to sleep when the enemy lurks about.  Watch and pray.

================================================================================

1. All Scripture references are from the English Standard Version, unless otherwise stated.

2. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080201085713.htm                                                                                                       

3. Watch - gregoreuo, gray-gor-yoo'-o; γρηγορέω; Strong's Number:  1127
       1.    to watch
       2.    metaph. give strict attention to, be cautious, active
          a.    to take heed lest through remission and indolence some destructive calamity suddenly overtake one

          KJV (23) - be vigilant, 1; wake, 1; watch, 21;
          NAS (22) - alert, 10; awake, 1; keep, 1; keep watch, 4; keep watching, 1; keeping alert, 1; stay on the alert, 1; stays awake, 1; wake, 2;

4. http://www.biblebb.com/files/spurgeon/0163.txt