Mark 14:38-42
“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Once more he went away and prayed the same thing. When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They did not know what to say to him. Returning the third time, he said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!””
Mark 14:38-42 NIV
This is Jesus encouraging us to keep watching and praying. The encouragement is borne out of His love for us. Remember He has seen the end from the beginning.
Jesus is our example, who when faced with the reality of His impending death, prayed. It is beneficial to us to be watchful so we will learn how the enemy works.
Temptation does not come carrying a giant placard saying I am temptation. It mostly creeps in appealing to our base instincts and before we know it, we are overcome. The enemy comes in the big things and the little things too. That is why you must be watchful.
Jesus was getting ready to be betrayed and crucified. He went into the garden to spend some time in pray. He told the disciples to pray also. When He came back from praying for an hour He found the disciples asleep.
Jesus states there are two things that a person must do to keep from falling into temptation.
The first is to watch.
When a person is watching, he is alert to what is going on around him. He knows when there is trouble starting to occur.
As we watch we will see when temptation starts to arise. We will know trouble when it arrives. At that point we have the ability to turn and flee from it.
If we are not watching we will not see it coming and will fall into temptation and sin.
The second thing stated was to pray. When a person prays, his focus is on God. All of his attention is directed towards God.
When our attention is focused on God, we will not focus on ourselves and sinful habits. We will not be looking at the world and what the world has to offer.
During times of prayer, God can fill us with His Holy Spirit to give us strength to turn away from all sin. God can reveal to us ways to get away from the temptations being presented.
Most believers will easily state that they do not want to sin. Their hearts desire is in the right place, but their sinful self gets in the way. Most will fall to the desires of the flesh sin.
God is Spirit. Our spirit needs to be in tune with God’s Spirit to walk the correct path. Allow your spirit to stay aligned with God’s Spirit. Allow God’s Spirit in you to control your flesh and desires.
Do not allow yourself to fall into temptation. Stay awake and alert and focused on God. Allow God to help you flee from temptation. Do not fall into temptation’s snare.
Prayer will help us in times of temptation or sin. The bible says it is only the arrogant who will think he can’t fall into temptation.
There is danger in us missing out on the opportunities that Jesus is bringing our way. There is danger in us going back to our old ways before who accepted Christ as our Savior from the life of sin and death.
There is danger in falling to false pastors who are agents of the devil.
There is danger of being sucked into the cares that are worldy and of no benefit to your eternity.
The weak flesh is programmed to succumb to temptation. Continue to feed your spirit and deny the flesh. Fasting helps to subdue the flesh.
There is victory for you!!!
Father thank You for this day and we ask for help in resisting temptation. We do not have any power of my own. Lord let Your abundant blessings fall from the storehouses of heaven over my friend and family today. Lord when we are in Your presence, the enemy can’t get to us. Lord help us to dwell perpetually in Your presence. Lord help us to be watchful at all times. Lord teach us how to pray and to be able to tarry in the place of prayer. Lord use my friend to be the light of Your love to all today. Daddy we love You amen. Be a blessing. Love ya !
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