Join the International Gospel Hour as Jeff Archie unpacks the profound teachings of Jesus on the importance of being watchful in our spiritual lives. This episode delves into the acronym WATCH, exploring how our words, actions, thoughts, character, and heart align us with God’s will. Our study is based on timeless biblical truths aimed at inspiring believers to live with greater awareness and purpose.
Jesus reminded those as He walked upon the earth to simply watch. Thinking of His plea and warning, let us launch our study today of Watch, coming up from the International Gospel Hour.
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Hi, this is Jay Webb for International Gospel Hour. Welcome to our broadcast today. For over 90 years, Churches of Christ have proclaimed God’s Word through our broadcasts. Just ahead is another Bible-based lesson with Jeff Archie of International Gospel Hour. Let’s begin.
SPEAKER 01 :
Well, thank you to our J-Web and greetings to all of you. It’s good to have you with us today for our studies here from International Gospel Hour. And before we get into our study, I want to defer back to our J-Web with just a few words about our work on social media, specifically Instagram.
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Thank you. It is Jesus who said, Watch ye therefore, for you know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cock crowing, or in the morning, lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you all, or what I say unto you I say unto all, watch. Mark 13, 35-37 There are many things we should watch, and we cannot hope to call attention to many of these in one brief broadcast, but we want to take each letter of the word watch and let that be the initial letter of some word telling us of something we should watch. Let’s begin with the letter W. Words. We are too careless in our use of words. We have this admonition from Ephesians 4, 29. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. Our conversation should be of such a nature that it will build up those who hear it. The wise man Solomon wrote after this fashion in Ecclesiastes 5, verse 2, Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter anything before God, for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth, therefore let thy words be few. Too many of us have a breaking out of the mouth. We are entirely too hasty in our utterances before God and man. It would be infinitely better for us if we would think twice before we speak, and sometimes think at least that many times, and then keep our mouths closed. Therefore let thy words be few. Jesus said in Matthew 12, 36 and 37, But I say unto you that every idle word that men shall speak they shall give an account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned. Words are powerful things. They should be handled carefully. They have the power of life and death in them. In the closing verse of the beautiful Psalm 19, we have this beautiful and expressive language. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer. God knows our thoughts and hears our words. May we be so careful of both that they will be acceptable to Him. A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver. Proverbs 25, 11. And James 3, verse 2. For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. The word watch. How about the letter A? Actions. Our every act has an influence upon others and upon ourselves. We should set proper examples before others, as Paul wrote to Timothy in 1 Timothy 4 and verse 12. Let no man despise thy youth, but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. In the beginning of the next chapter, this old preacher wrote to the young preacher, telling him how he ought to act toward others. Hear this. Rebuke not an elder, but entreat him as a father, and the younger men as brethren, the elder women as mothers, the younger as sisters, with all purity. Let’s watch our actions. How about the letter T of the word watch? Thoughts. Just about the hardest thing we have to watch is our thoughts. We must think right if we would live right. Philippians 4, 8 says, God would have us think on the things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, and of good report. When we are thus thinking, we are thinking the thoughts that are pleasing to God. Proverbs 4.23, Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life. And Proverbs 23 and verse 7, For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. How about the letter C of the word watch? Let’s watch our character. Too many are more interested in their reputation than in their character. Reputation is what men and women say about us. Character is what God and the angels know about us. Men and women may say some pretty hard things about you, but if they are true, no harm is done to you. Many false and hard things were said about Christ. The great apostle Paul was shamefully lied about and shamefully treated, but he kept his character above reproach. God knows, if you will take care of your character, your reputation will take care of itself. The beloved John wrote to his friend Gaius, whom he loved in the truth after this manner, in 3 John 2, Beloved, I wish above all things that you may prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospers. Here was a man in such perfect soul health that John could think of nothing better to pray for that man or to pray for that he might prosper and be in physical health in proportion to his soul health. The hospitals would be running over indeed if many were in no better physical health than they are soul health. Dear Listener Gentle Gracious Listener How would you like for others to pray for you that you might prosper in the things of this world and be in health even as your soul prospers? Let’s be certain that we watch our character. The letter H of the word watch, hearts. Samuel was sent to the house of Jesse to anoint a king over Israel. Jesse had many sons. Eliab passed before Samuel, and Samuel thought and said, Surely the Lord’s anointed is before me. In this he was mistaken. What had deceived him? He was looking on outside appearances. The Lord looks on the inside, for the Lord sees not as man sees. For man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart. 1 Samuel 16, 7 How is your heart? For the Lord is looking at it. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God, Matthew 5, 8. The pure in heart are happy. They are blessed. The pure in heart enjoy God. If it were possible for the impure in heart to go to heaven, they would not be happy. For heaven is for the pure in heart. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also, Matthew 6, 21. The word of God is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. From Hebrews 4 and verse 12, For the word of God is quick and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. From Hebrews 10, 22, Let us draw near with a true heart, in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded, James 4, 8. And sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear, 1 Peter 3 and verse 15. Indeed, friends, let us be on watch. Let’s watch our words, our actions. our thoughts, our character, and our hearts. What a wonderful study today concerning watch. We need to be on watch, friends, to make sure that we are placing within our lives, to keep us on watch, the good things that be of God. With that being said, I’m going to pause, defer once again to our Jay Webb, who will let you know how you can receive your free Bible study course available by mail.
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Our long-time free Bible study course by mail is always available. Have you tried it yet? Just call us toll-free at 855-444-6988. And leave your name, address, and just say, Home Study. That’s it. You may also go to our website at internationalgospelhour.com, click on the Contact tab, and leave us the same information, name, address, and type Home Study in the message box. Study the Bible at your own pace. Again, it’s free from your friends here at International Gospel Hour.
SPEAKER 01 :
Friends, today we are grateful to once again present our Turn Back the Clock segment and We’re here on our broadcast from the International Gospel Hour. We turn back the clock for a lesson of days gone by, and today’s lesson, simply titled, Watch, was presented by the late Brother Fred Dennis. We have presented over the years a number of lessons from Brother Dennis. He was a native of Ohio, preached for over 60 years, and his preaching was more in traveling to different places throughout Ohio and West Virginia. He was also a very gifted writer, and he placed a number of his lessons in print in three volumes titled Fifty Short Sermons. Although they may be short in content, they are very long in Scripture and loaded and set to preach. It’s our blessing to have Volume 1 available to us here at International Gospel Hour. And so by using those, we’re able to present the lesson today. And there’s a spirit of Abel in Hebrews 11 and verse 4. Although Brother Dennis may be dead, he still speaks. And how grateful we are to share with you these broadcasts or these lessons of days gone by through our broadcast. We’re always grateful to turn back the clock so we can look forward with the clock of life of which we face and do what God wills. We’ll continue our studies together at another time. But for now, thank you for joining me today here on the International Gospel Hour. I’m Jeff Archie. And friends, keep listening.
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God be with you till we meet again.
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Thank you for listening to our broadcast today and we hope you continue onward with your search and study of God’s Word. Please join us next time and visit our website at internationalgospelhour.com God be with you till we meet again.
