LESSON #1: THE LORD JESUS’ PRAYER IN THE GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE
On the night in which He was betrayed and arrested, the Lord Jesus prayed in the garden of Gethsemane. He was sorrowful and deeply distressed. He said to His disciples, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.” (Matthew 26:38) Darkness was trying to enter His soul. So, He prayed three times until He overcame that darkness (Matthew 26:44). What kind of prayer did He pray? It was watching prayer.
LESSON #2: WHAT IS WATCHING PRAYER?
What is watching prayer? First of all, it is a prayer in the dark times. In the dark times, our spirit will easily fall into sleep just as our body will easily fall into sleep at night. Watching prayer is a prayer to keep our spirit awake in the dark times. Secondly, our spiritual eyes will be open when we watch in prayer. We will be able to see some activities in the spiritual realm around us.
LESSON #3: NIGHT TIME PRAYER
Watching prayer is a prayer which is done in the night time. At night, we will naturally feel sleepy and want to sleep. Nevertheless, we must learn to overcome this if we want our spirit to be awake and watching. Sleepiness is the temptation from our flesh that we need to overcome when we watch in prayer. The Lord Jesus said, "Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." (Matthew 26:41)
LESSON #4: FOUR NIGHT WATCHES
The Lord Jesus said in the parable about His coming, "Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming—in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning" (Mark 13:35) In this parable, He mentioned four different times during the night, which is very important for watching prayer: The evening at 9 pm, midnight at 12 am, the crowing of the rooster at 3 pm, and the morning at 6 am.
LESSON #5: DARKNESS AND THE WORKS OF THE FLESH
The evening actually starts at 6 pm, but the darkness that makes people fall into temptation starts at 9 pm. The works of the flesh, such as revelry, drunkenness, lewdness, lust, sexual immorality, become stronger after 9 pm. People also start to feel sleepy after 9 pm. Paul the apostle wrote, “For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night.” (1 Thessalonians 5:7) Therefore, it is very important that we do watching prayer at 9 pm.
LESSON #6: DEEP DARKNESS AND THE WORKS OF THE DEVIL
Before midnight the night is already dark, but after midnight the night becomes very dark and scary. It is the time of deep darkness when the devil works freely. From 9 pm to midnight, it is the time of the temptation of the flesh; but after midnight, it is the time of the powers of darkness. People who are seeking dark powers will meditate or perform rituals at this hour. Many demonic attacks will also take place during this time. Therefore, it is very important to watch and pray at this time of deep darkness.
LESSON #7: THE CROWING OF THE ROOSTER
The rooster crows at about 3 am. It marks the end of deep darkness and the preparation for the morning. Just before the rooster crows, the works of darkness will be very intense. Simon Peter denied the Lord Jesus three times just before the rooster crowed. The rooster crows to wake people up from sleep so that they can prepare for the morning. When we watch in prayer at the crowing of the rooster, God will speak to us with a loud voice to awaken our spirit in preparation for the day to come.
LESSON #8: THE DAWNING OF THE MORNING
At 6 am the night completely ends and the morning comes. The sun rises in the east and darkness is replaced by light. It is the beginning of a new day. It is the time to sing and give praise to God as we come to the end of the night watches. The Psalmist wrote, "My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and give praise. Awake, my glory! Awake, lute and harp! I will awaken the dawn." (Psalm 57:7-8)
LESSON #9: “COULD YOU NOT WATCH WITH ME ONE HOUR?"
How do we learn to watch and pray as beginners? We can begin with the first night watch at 9 pm. We watch and pray regularly at 9 pm. After we get used to it, then we can add the second night watch at 12 am. Then, we can add the third night watch at 3 pm, and so on. How much time should we spend when we watch and pray? The Lord Jesus said to His disciples, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour?” (Matthew 26:40) We should spend at least one hour every time we watch and pray.
LESSON #10: BE SERIOUS AND WATCHFUL IN PRAYER
Peter the apostle wrote, “But the end of all things is at hand; therefore, be serious and watchful in your prayers.” (1 Peter 4:7) We are approaching the end of all things. The time of darkness and deep darkness has come to the earth (Isaiah 60:2). Therefore, it is very important that we become serious and watchful in our prayers. It may not always be possible for us to watch and pray at all the four watches every night, but we can and should do it at two or three night watches regularly.
