Volume LXI Number 12 - Church of God (7th Day)

Watch And Pray!By Sister Maryane Charles“Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. Thespirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak” (Mark 14:38).Have you ever been in church and been so overcomeby an overwhelming urge to sleep, and despite attemptsto stay awake you just keep on nodding and dozing, oryou happen to be overcome by sleep?There was a young man in the Bible who was veryinterested in the Word of God. He came with the rest ofthe disciples to listen to the words spoken by Paul, butbecause of the length of the meeting, he became overcomeby sleep. “And upon the first day of the week, when thedisciples came together to break bread, Paul preachedunto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continuedhis speech until midnight. And there were many lights inthe upper chamber, where they were gathered together.And there sat in a window a certain young man namedEutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul waslong preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell downfrom the third loft, and was taken up dead” (Acts 20:7-9).The parable of the wise virgins in Matthew chapter 25should teach us something. We should prepare for thefuture. We should have sufficient insight to plan for thefuture. The key thing is to be prepared, and not to slumberand sleep. We have to be aware and pay keen attentionto the things which are happening around us. We see thatsleeping cost Eutychus his life. Whether physically orspiritually, sleeping could cause us to lose our life. Jesuswarned against slumbering and sleeping and beingentrapped with the cares of this life and the deceitfulnessof sin. In Matthew 25:1-13 the parable of the ten virginsis given, five wise, five foolish. They all had lamps. Thefive wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps, the fivefoolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them. Wesee that “While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumberedand slept” (verse 5). "And at midnight there was a crymade, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meethim" (verse 6). We have to be always on the lookout, onour Christian walk, for the many devices which the devilhas in place to try and entrap us. We do not want to betermed as fools when our Lord returns, and be beggingat the door for it to be opened. We should be ready sothat when the bridegroom comes we will be amongst thosespoken of in verse 10, “...and they that were ready wentin with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.” Letus listen to the admonition from Psalm 27:14, “Wait onthe LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthenthine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.”If we do not have foresight and prepare and plan, theconsequences could be disastrous. “O that they were wise,that they understood this, that they would consider theirlatter end!” (Deuteronomy 32:29)We must watch and pray for our souls. The ministerswhom God has placed in the Church have to watch fortheir souls likewise. “Obey them that have the rule overyou, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls,as they that must give account, that they may do it withjoy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you”(Hebrews 13:17).The Sardis Church was admonished to be watchful,and strengthen the things that remain. Please readRevelation 3:16. Jesus is not returning to a sleepingChurch. We should be awake to the things happeningaround us.“But the end of all things is at hand: be ye thereforesober, and watch unto prayer” (I Peter 4:7).PAGE FOURTHE ADVOCATE OF TRUTH