"WATCH AND PRAY"


A. "WATCH AND PRAY, LEST YE ENTER INTO TEMPTATION. THE SPIRIT TRULY IS READY, BUT THE FLESH IS WEAK." - Mark 14:38
  1. These words of admonition by our Lord can be understood best:
    1. When we understand the background to them; they were spoken in the garden of Gethsemane, in the darkest hour of our Lord's earthly ministry.
    2. They were associated with the great agony of Christ, before he suffered on the cross.
  2. Only Christ understood how imperative it was for the disciples to watch and pray:
    1. He knew how fear and confusion would scatter his followers.
    2. And how Peter would deny his relationship to Christ.
B. "WATCH AND PRAY, LEST YE ENTER INTO TEMPTATION."
  1. Temptation:
    1. The word "temptation" has come to be associated exclusively with that which is evil. We seldom speak of tempting a person to do good.
    2. The Greek word for temptation is "peirasmos", and signifies "to try to subject to enticement by foul means".
  2. Satan tempts us:
    1. Where we are weakest.
    2. Some people fall for riches or money, as in the case of Judas - John 12:6
    3. Others are weak, as far as women are concerned, as in the case of Solomon and David - Neh. 13:26; 2 Sam. 11:1-4
  3. He tempts us when we are off guard:
    1. That was Peter's difficulty - Mark 14:64-72
    2. And that is where most of us suffer defeat at the hands of the evil one.
    3. He uses evil minded persons to mislead us.
  4. Watchfulness:
    1. There is no other commandment by Christ which received greater emphasis by him - Compare Luke 21:34-36 with Mark 13:33-37; Luke 12:35-40; 21:8; Matt. 24:42; 26:40, 41
    2. To watch is to be alert, to guard ourselves against danger.
C. "WATCH AND PRAY"
  1. Implication of the admonition -- Watch:
    1. It is to learn! Get to know ourselves; to find out our natural tendencies; learn our weaknesses.
    2. Strengthen our weak points against the assaults of the enemy - Rev. 3:2
    3. To watch is to avoid. If we know our weakness in certain points, we must avoid them being subjected to attack by the enemy.
    4. To watch is to resist - Jas. 4:7. Paul's admonition is to the point - Eph. 4:27; Luke 4:1-6; Matt. 4:1-9
  2. Conditions to success in watching:
    1. Live habitually in the presence of the Lord - John 15:1-11
    2. Occupy yourselves in His service. People that are busy for God are least tempted to serve the devil - Neh. 6:3
  3. Prayer, a twin of Watching -- "Watch and pray":
    1. Experience shows that when men pray the enemy is least successful. Satan fears the prayers of God's people more than any other weapon.
    2. Prayer does four things for us -
      1. It keeps our mind stayed upon God; so long as our mind is stayed upon God, Satan has no access to our thoughts - Ps. 50:10; Isa. 26:3
      2. It joins us to the Captain of our soul, who has never lost a battle - 1 Sam. 17:45-50; Phil. 4:13; Rom. 8:31
      3. It influences our lives so there can be no room to sin. Note the contrast between Moses in the mount with God, and Aaron in the valley with the people - Ex. 34:29-35
      4. Prayer is a weapon Satan fears most. The weakest saints are mighty when they are on their knees.
  4. "Watch and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The Spirit truly is willing, but the flesh is weak."
    1. So long as we are encompassed with so many infirmities, we need to heed the words of our Lord, put up our guards against Satan; prayer is one of them.
    2. Watching in prayer is a must, if we are to be victorious in our conflict with Satan.
    3. Not to pray is to expose ourselves to temptation and eternal ruin.


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