In response to prayer in the last days..

2 things are mentioned in those passages:

Watching and praying ( Mark 14: 32-41). Twice we are exhorted to watch!

This begs this question: Are watching and praying both necessary to be able to stand with Jesus in that hour? Are watching and praying two separate things or do they go hand in hand?

I believe from this passage, that they are inseparable. Let's take a look at what Jesus is saying by telling us to watch.

In this passage, He wants them to watch with him. What are they looking for? The trouble. Those who want to take the life of Jesus. They are in essence watching for the darkness, so that they would not be caught surprise by it.

In Matthew 24:42 it says:

Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.

The exhortation here again is to watch. Watch for the Lord's return so that it will not come upon you like a thief in the night.

Cross reference this and Matt. 24: 32-44:

32 “Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. 33 So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors! 34 Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away. 36 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. 37 But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 38 For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, 39 and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 40 Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. 42 Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. 43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. 44 Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. ( NKJV)

and with 1 Thessalonians 5:1-8:

1 But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. 2 For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. 3 For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. 4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. 5 You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. 8 But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.

In Mark 14: 32-41, Jesus' observations and exhortation in Gethsemane are that:

1.) The disciples could not keep watch for one hour
2.) The disciples did not pray
3.) The disciples need to keep watching and praying that they may not come into temptation
4.) The spirit is willing
5.) The flesh is weak
6.) He finds them sleeping twice for their eyes were very heavy
7.) They did not know what to answer Him

It is interesting that in 1 Thessalonians, it says in v.6 " Therefore let us not sleep.." Just as the disciples Peter, James, and John had slept with their eyes heavy in the darkest hour, so we are exhorted not to sleep, but to watch and pray. We are commanded in Thessalonians to discern the times and the seasons. I do not want my spirit which is prone to apathy to face Him "not knowing what to answer Him."

Can you have a prayer life and not watch? Sure.

I know many who are sincerely committed to the Lord and follow Him who have a prayer life. Are they watching for His return? Are they trying to discern the times and the seasons? No. So,the spirit is willing but our flesh is weak and we must indeed pray. We must have a faithfulness to the secret place. Many though do not see the importance of watching because they aren't really sure what that means.

I'm not really sure what that means.

I think we are trying to figure it out together. We are praying and trying to discern the times and season we live in. This has so very much to do with the great falling away. I do not want to trust my own heart to stand in the darkest hour with Jesus when I know that the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Yes, all of disciples fell away in that hour, even the most zealous.

Zeal will not sustain us in that hour.

As it says in Matthew 24: 21-22:

21"For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will.
22"Unless those days had been cut short, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.

My spirit is not shocked by that statement as it should be.

We need to watch and pray: For a great post about why we should study the end-times, read David Sliker's response here on the IHOP forums-

http://www.ihop.org/Forums/Messages.aspx?ThreadID=1000001991#new

Grace and peace-