And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? (Matt. 26:40)
Jesus Christ came to the disciples and found them asleep. They represent eighty to ninety percent of the church today. I have said for years now, “Find out which way that eighty percent of the church is going, and go the opposite way. By default, you will be headed in the right direction.”
Christians, in the United States, are programmed for carnal activity. The church model today is to have as many groups and activities as possible. This is usually to form associations or relationships dedicated to a particular interest or activity that has nothing to do with the Lord or His work. That is church growth 101 in the modern church. The church is to prepare saints for the work of the ministry.
Prayer Or Play
I was invited to speak at an international ministries’ convention. I was sitting in the speaker’s room reading my Bible, meditating and praying quietly before I spoke. The leader of the worldwide organization was there also.
This individual was gazing intently at their iPad. They appeared to be typing something to me. After about an hour of this, the individual let out a yell and called one of their employees for help. I thought, what in the world has gone wrong! Their Bible program must have stopped?
I discovered they got irate because the game they had been playing, for over an hour, locked up and they were irritated because they were about to win. I could not believe what I was witnessing! We were in church meetings! I thought they were studying, but they were playing games on an iPad!
Yes, you read that correctly. This was the leader of the entire international organization. No wonder the church is in a mess. The leader! The people in the audience thought they were following a spiritual leader, and were not. People around the world thought they were following a spiritual leader, and were not. I was concerned with the actions I witnessed, but kept my mouth shut. I did take note. I knew not to follow this person, as Paul said to do in Phil. 3:17-20 and Rom. 16:17-18.
The question is, “Why wasn’t the leader of the organization praying, supplicating and interceding for the meeting?” I will give you the answer. They had no interest in the things of God. They did not reverence or respect God. I knew they had been on the path of Casual Christianity for some years. I did not realize how far this individual had backslid until I witnessed this experience. Yes, by their fruits you shall know them, Jesus Christ said. They had become so casual about the things of God that they had lost interest in them.
When this individual spoke at the meeting, they whipped the audience into a frenzy with their booming voice, shouts, skips and hops. They told the audience how they needed God and should desire Him with all their hearts. They knew how to manipulate the crowd from years of pulpit experience. This speaker imparted carnality to the people because that is all they had to give.
This is some good advice for all preachers. If you are going to play games with Christianity, just to get an audience and a paycheck, quit ministry and go get a street job. You are deceived and are headed for judgment from the Lord Jesus Christ for leading His people astray. I know, I know, you don’t believe in judgment, but one day you will.
Lovers Of Pleasures
…lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God. Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
(2 Timothy 3:4b-5)
The leader must have received great pleasure from playing the game. More pleasure than spending time with God in prayer. If the leaders do not pray, their followers will not pray either. They had a form of godliness, but that is all.
I say these things not to attack anyone personally, but to point out wrong actions that hinder the church. These actions must be exposed and repented of if the church is to take its place.
The sad truth is this is not just an isolated occurrence. It happens throughout the church world. Therefore, you have very many that play games and do not pray. Many people play games and watch movies on their devices at church because they are bored and have lost interest in the things pertaining too and of the Holy Ghost. They simply follow their leader.
You can ask them if they pray and they will say yes. They mean they say a few words when they get up and maybe when they go to bed, if they are not too tired. In other words, they mentally agree that prayer is good and necessary, but they do not pray Biblically.
In their minds, they are prayer warriors, just ask them. They may have mumbled a few words they call prayer, but it was a waste of time because it produces no results. Pastor Danny Wallace, a great friend of mine who is now in heaven, was asked to speak on the national day of prayer. It was at a big event at the court house in the town his church was in. He opened with prayer and then said to all the dignitaries and people in attendance, “If this is the only day you are going to pray, you might as well go home, it is a waste of your time!” My Lord and my God what boldness and truth he declared! I know some would think that wasn’t nice, but why lie to the people. Tell them the gospel truth.
Watch One Hour
Matthew 26:36-46, gives the account of Jesus Christ and the disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane right before He was arrested. He led the disciples there to pray, not to sleep or play games. Excuse me. Jesus gave specific directions about what He expected them to do.
First, He asked the disciples to watch with Him because He was sorrowful even unto death. He wanted them to help Him pray about what He was going through. They went to sleep while Jesus sought God earnestly.
Jesus was trying to get His local church to help Him pray and they went to sleep. Jesus Christ has been beseeching the church, today, to pray for years now. Most of the church is asleep now just like the disciples in the garden.
Jesus Needs The Church To Pray
He is trying to get the church to pray in His second coming. This will occur in three stages according to what the Lord revealed to me about fifteen years ago.
The first stage is, there must be a major move of God in the earth. This is for two purposes. This is to get the saints ready to stand before the judgment seat of Christ, because many aren’t. The next is to bring about a sweeping harvest of souls from around the world. This is the precious fruit of the earth.
The second stage of His coming is to bring us to the rapture of the saints. The Bible tells us we cannot be raptured until our mortal body takes on immortality. This is described in First Corinthians chapter fifteen verses fifty through fifty seven. It will take the same power that raised Jesus from the dead to change our physical bodies. Then we will be caught up in the air to ever be with the Lord.
The third stage is when our Lord Jesus Christ returns to the earth. He will reign on the earth for one thousand years. Not just because He has nothing else to do. This will complete our redemption.
You may think, what does he mean by complete our redemption? I said the same thing to the Lord when He gave me the revelation of why he would reign on earth for a thousand years.
The Lord spoke to me about Adam in the Garden of Eden. He reminded me that He told Adam the day that he ate the forbidden fruit He would die that day. I said, “Yes Lord, He died that day spiritually because he was separated from you.” The Lord said, “Am I a man that I should lie or the son of man that I should repent. When I said that Adam would die that day, I meant what I said and he died that day physically.”
I have been known to try to out smart the Lord, so I took a chance at it. I said, “Lord, I can prove Adam didn’t die that day in Genesis chapter five. There, it says Adam lived to be 930 years old so he didn’t die that day physically.
Jesus asked, “Who is the oldest person to ever live?” I answered, “In Genesis Five, Methuselah lived to be 969 years old. He is the oldest person to live in recorded history.” Jesus said, “You are correct and My Word says one day with the Lord is as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day. No man has ever lived to be a thousand years old, nor did Adam, so he died that day. No man will ever live to be one thousand years old until I come back and live on earth for one thousand years to reverse the curse that was placed on the human race through Adam.” Now you know why He will live on earth one thousand years, among other reasons.
Note, revelation like this should be common to those who seek the Lord in prayer. Many just give book reports on the Bible when they speak. Revelation of the Bible is what matures Christians though.
The second thing Jesus wanted the disciples to pray about in the garden was clear.
Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. (Matthew 26:41)
He had not been able to get them to help Him pray about the test He was facing. Yes, God manifested in the flesh could not influence them to pray with Him!
I know you want to know why they would not pray. The answer is the oppression of Satan was so overwhelming that it made them physically tired. They were worn out just by being there in that satanic, spiritual atmosphere. They were not ready for such opposition from the devil because they had not spent quality time praying before that event. Many Christians think that they will be able to pray and overcome, in the dark hour of satanic attack, but if they are not ready they will not overcome.
This is not a game we are in, this is real spiritual life. I would encourage you to attend our meetings so you can receive and be prepared for the days ahead of you. Most are unprepared for trials that may come their way. As long as they are not tested they do fine, but the moment they are, their weakness is exposed. Build up yourself daily in the Holy Ghost.
You know from reading about this that the disciples did not pray. They went to sleep again! They were facing the greatest test of their Christian faith. When they were tested, everyone of them backslid and denied the Lord Jesus Christ. So you think you are more skilled than they were? They lived with the Son of God everyday and knew who Jesus was. It did not do them any good, when the devil came their way.
It won’t do you any good to know who Jesus is when the devil comes your way either. You’re no match for demonic forces in your own strength. You must be being continually filled with the Holy Ghost to overcome. If you don’t believe that, ask the disciples who lived with Him daily.
I know, I know, you believe Jesus has done it all for you and now you don’t have to do anything. You are deceived if you believe that! That is a bunch of bunk, junk and hogwash! That is a doctrine of the devil! Make it plain preacher! Thank you I will.
Our hour is upon us in the Church. Could you not watch with Him one hour!? Awake to the seriousness of this day that we live in. Quit playing those doggone games and pray!! If you don’t pray you will regret it. Neglect always brings regret.
