Title: Watch and Pray-4
Contents
(Mark 14:32-40) “When they came to a place called Gethsemane, Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” When he took Peter, James, and John with him, he was greatly astonished and grieved, saying, “My heart I am so distressed that I am about to die. Stay here and stay awake.” He said, “Stay here and watch.” He went a little further, fell on the ground, and asked if it were possible for this time to pass away from him, saying, “Abba, Father, all things are possible with you; take this cup from me. And when he returned, he saw the disciples sleeping, and he said to Peter, “Simon, were you asleep? Could you not have been awake for one hour? Stay awake and pray that you may not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” He prayed with the same word, and when he came again, he saw them, and they were sleeping, for their eyes were very weary, and they did not know how to answer Jesus.”
1. The condition of those who are in a spiritual sleep.
1) Distance yourself from God's Word and your life. Separation of belief and practical life.
- Lack of spiritual discernment in the Christian life.
* There is a form (shape) of faith, but no power.
* Nevertheless, those who consider their actions to be right fall into conflict, that is, self-contradiction.
* Because of self-obstinacy, he becomes stubborn and hardens as he sees repentance as a failure in his life.
* Challenges exhortations and reproofs and becomes angry.
(Ezekiel 2:3-4) “He said to me, “Son of man, I am sending you to the children of Israel, a rebellious people, a rebellious people, who have sinned against me and their fathers to this day. I am sending you to them, and you shall say to them, This is what the Sovereign LORD says: They are a rebellious people, and whether they hear it or not, they will know that there is a prophet among them.”
- We turn away from God's precepts and walk according to the winds of the world.
(1 Samuel 28:7) "Saul said to his servants, "Seek a woman for me, and I will go there and inquire of her.
* In Himself, Christ dies, and I am left alone. : It goes against the Bible.
* Private personal emotions and thoughts dominate life and become seized by worldly greed.
* Giving up the good fight with the world that challenges God's will, instead, you become a partner with the world.
* The conscience of faith, which had responded according to the Bible, does not respond and becomes insensitive to sin.
* The activity of faith is reduced to an act for the sake of showing.
- The Lord has commanded us to be vigilant to avoid this condition.
(Luke 21:33-36) “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. Take heed of yourselves, or your hearts will be weighed down with debauchery, drunkenness, and the anxieties of life, and that day will come upon you unexpectedly like a trap. This day will come upon everyone who dwells on the whole earth. Therefore, keep watch and pray always that you may be able to escape all these things that are to come and stand before the Son of Man.”
2. Awake as God's holy people and beloved children.
1) Why we need to be awake
(1 Peter 5:8-9) “Be sober and watchful, for your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Inira”
- To be awake is what we often say, to be alert. : Awakening
* Behavior inappropriate for age, behavior not appropriate for status, behavior not appropriate for environment
* A situation of being dragged by an unnerved surroundings in indolence, complacency.
2) The devil seeks someone to devour like a roaring lion.
- The devil is a spiritual being who opposes God, and he has superior powers than humans.
* It is a deceiving spirit with the meaning of slander and slander.
* It deceives and blinds those who do not believe so that they cannot receive the Gospel.
“The god of this world, among them, blinds the minds of those who do not believe, so that the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ may not shine, for Christ is the image of God” (2 Corinthians 4:4).
* In particular, for Christians, it directs or indirectly deceives them and causes them to go against the will of God.
* Directly deceive Christians to block righteousness and cause divisions and strife (slander).
* Sometimes they deceive themselves through those closest to them and deviate from God's will.
“Kill the prophet or the dreamer, because he said that he might betray the LORD your God, whom he took you out of the land of Egypt as a ransom from the house of bondage, and to lead you out of the way the LORD your God commanded you to do. So in this way you shall remove evil from among you. Your brother, your brother, your children, or your wife, or your life-long friend, quietly seduces you, saying, "Deuteronomy 13:5-6
* Because it is not a visible entity, it is mistaken for only human actions.
* Sometimes pretending to be right, they deceive and stumble.
“These are false apostles, workers of deceit, who disguise themselves as apostles of Christ.
* Satan attacks man's weakest state or makes him fall with pride. : spiritual sleep
3) Attitude for Christian life as a Christian: spiritual warfare
(Ephesians 6:10-18) “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might, and put on the full armor of God, that you may be able to resist the crafts of the devil. Our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against flesh and blood.” (Ephesians 6:10-18) Against principalities and powers, and against the rulers of this darkness, and against the spirits of evil in heaven. Therefore, put on the full armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and after doing all things, stand and stand in the truth. truth), having your belt on your belt, putting on the breastplate of righteousness (morality and ethics), putting on your shoes with the preparations of the gospel of peace, and having the shield of faith (trust) over all things, so that you are able to extinguish all the fires of the wicked, and the helmet of salvation Take the sword of righteousness, which is the word of God, with all prayer and supplication, praying in the Holy Spirit at all times.
- The Christian fight is not against man, but against evil spirits who try to rule over man.
* Full armor of God, fully armed for spiritual battle.
* Always try to stay awake and pray.
* The real purpose of our lives is to be a holy soldier of God who accomplishes His kingdom and righteousness.