Binge-watching

Sunday Sermon 9.11.21

In 2015 the Collins English Dictionary chose “binge-watch” as the word of the year. Wow!

According to research, “this is an observable cultural phenomenon that has become popular”. 61% of Netflix peeps say that they binge-watch regularily. Are you one of them? (No judgements here, jus’ wondering…)

I believe there are lessons to be learned from observing and evaluating cutural trends and happenings. So, what about binge-watching?

Well, let’s look at it… in it, (binge-watching), we are not just watching but over watching or marathon watching. In other words, there is an over emphasis on what we watch and are watching. What types of things do we watch?

• We watch:
• TV shows
• Youtube videos
• movies
• our weight
• sporting events
• children
• people

Could we say that there is an “overwatching” of these things? An overemphasis on some or all of them? I agree that the prolonged watching of these is a cultural phenomenon. But I also believe that there just may be a spiritual reason behind the why? (or maybe, more that one reason) Here’s why.

It is clear that we are living in days that we must be on watch, and aware of what is going on around us. There is a call in our spirits to be watchful, aware, on guard and awake. The verses from the Bible, both Old and New Testaments are being trumpeted, “WATCH and PRAY”.

• Mat, 26:41 – Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation
• Lk. 21:34-36 – Be careful or your heart will be weighed down…be always on the watch and pray
• Mk. 13:37 – Be on guard, be alert…therefore keep watch…
• Eph. 6:18 – praying always with all prayer… being watchful
• 1 Thes. 5:6-8 – let us watch and be sober
• Rev. 3:2-3 – be watchful and strengthen the things that remain
• Rev. 16:15 – blessed is he who watches and keeps his garments
• 2 Ki. 9:17 – keep watch and warn the townspeople
• Ezek. 33 & Hos. 9 – watchmen be on guard and warn God’s people

Could it be that the Call of the Spirit to believers, to watch and pray in these days is being inverted by the enemy? Could the rise in binge-watching, and even its declaration of or designation as “word of the year”, be a perversion of the Call of the Spirit to watch and pray?

Could the enemy be terrified of believers who would actually hear that call to watch and pray, and rather set a plan in motion to distract them by any means possible, including his counterfeit – binge-watching?

Would you agree that since 2015 the need to watch and pray has increased exponentially? I think that the enemy knows his end is eminent and has unleashed every lie, plot and strategy to delay his demise. Folks, it is time to watch and pray.

How do you watch and pray, Debbie? What do you mean?

Think of the two words:

1. WATCH – open your eyes, look around, notice things close and far, notice the visible and be alert to the invisible/spiritual. Look up, turn on the light, and keep looking closely in the dark.
2. PRAY – offer prayers of all kinds to God

All of us can do this. It is not difficult, but it is costly. It costs our time, energy, and interest.

With all that there is to observe today in our world, in our life, watching should be easy. But our interest must be there, because to pray to God takes more than our interest. We don’t need any special qualifications, we just need to do it. Offer prayers, plural, to God on behalf of what we are seeing, what we have observed, what we are watching.

When we do that, we are acknowledging that we see what’s happening and are powerless to do anything about it, our God is not, however. Therefore, we offer it to Him for His help. We pray to Him. The self-righteous person won’t do that though, for he thinks that he “can handle it.”

When we choose to watch and pray, we are admitting that we can’t handle it but we know who can and we willingly ask for His help in that needy situation.

Whatever you are watching happen in your life right now, I am asking you to pray about it. I don’t care what it is. If you have watched it happen or are watching it happen, please pray. Lift your heart and prayer to God. Yield to His way and power. I promise you will experience a tremendous lifting and peace.

If you can see it (physically or spiritually), you can pray about it. YOU can.

That place we have just described is the starting point of prayer for all of us. Keep awake, watch, notice and then pray about it.

But for some of you, there is more.

You are called to be a watchman! A person who’s job it is to stand guard on the wall of your family, or city, or church or nation and sound the alarm when you see enemy invaders coming. When you see these invaders you move into intercession – deep and passionate prayer for that one, city, church or national situation. You, the watchman, challenge wrong laws, morality, and teaching through prayer and strategic intervention. You watch and pray, but you are a watchman.

With three short blasts, the watchman calls for his supervisors to come and he reports what he has seen to them. Oh watchmen, will you blow your trumpet, and sound the alarm, and signal for the hosts of heaven to come and bring aid?

Today, from their stations, the Israeli Defense Forces guard the local residents of the villages against unwanted attack. They are the “shomer” (Hebrew) security guard; the same Hebrew word used in Psalm 121, when it speaks of Jehovah, the One that watches over us.

God is watching over us, but He is looking for those who will “stand in the gap” and pray when they see invaders. Ezk.22:3

My new favorite hero, Leonard Ravenhill said, “No man is greater than his prayer life.” Folks, your prayers don’t have to be pretty or flowery – geesh, have you read the prayers of the Bible? But your prayers do have to be authentic, intentional and directed to God.

Where can you improve and increase your prayer life?

I believe the word of the day spiritually is – WATCH (and pray), (three words, I know). Don’t let the devil’s counterfeit distract you – you are made for more than binge-watching.

Go with God,

Debbie

PS- Wouldn’t it be wonderful to be accused of over binge-watching and praying?! Ha!