Praying Watchmen

"The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak." Jesus

C.S. Spurgeon said, "On thine own resolve depend not at all."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
After Jesus and His disciples had shared their last supper together and sung a final hymn, they made their way to the Mount of Olives. As they walked, Jesus spoke with passion. "All of you will be made to stumble because of me. You will all be scattered when I am taken." Peter bristled. "Even if everyone else stumbles and fails, I will not forsake you." Then Jesus told him that this would happen soon-this very night. "Before the rooster crows twice, you will have denied me three times."
"I will never deny you," vowed Peter. "Even if I have to die with You!"

And every one of the disciples said the same thing
except the one who had already disappeared.

Then they came to Gethsemane and Jesus took Peter, James, and John deeper into seclusion while the others sat and waited. He asked the three to stay with Him and watch because He was so sorrowful that He felt He could die. He struggled with His Father and gave up His will and came back to find His closest friends asleep. "Couldn't you watch one hour? Watch and pray, so you don't enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing but the flesh is weak."

And we know the rest of the story. They fell asleep again because they were weary with sorrow. After He woke them up, He went to meet His betrayer and those who had come to capture Him. You can read more about this night in any of the gospels written by Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
What was the spirit willing to do?
-to never deny Jesus
-to die for Him if need be
-to stay awake and pray with Him

But the flesh was weak. They couldn't stay awake for even one hour, and later, self-preservation reared it's ugly head when Peter was confronted regarding his association with Jesus. "I never knew Him," he declared vehemently.

What was it Jesus had said to them?
"Watch and pray.

Why?
"Lest you enter into temptation."

The temptations of the flesh-
to deny what and who we know when our life is on the line;
to give into what our flesh craves whether it be sleep, illicit sex, too much food,
pride, anger, unfriendly talk, imaginations of the heart, you name it.

Is there no hope?
Will our flesh always triumph over our spirit?
Will there always be such a war between them?

There is hope.
It's in that little directive of Jesus'.
"Watch and pray."

Sounds like we should keep our eyes open when we pray.
Sounds like we should know what's going on in the world around us.
Sounds like we should be on watchful alert and pray about what we see.

Oh, Watchmen,
The morning cometh, and also the night. (Is. 21:5)
Watch for things that go bump in the night.

Keep a watch over your mouth. (Ps. 141:3)
Watch and shut up.

If you see the sword come, blow the trumpet. (Ez. 33:6)
Watch and warn.

Watch to see what he will say to you
and what you will answer when you are corrected. (Hab 2:1)
Watch and repent.

Watch, for we do not know the hour when He will come. (Matt. 24:42)
Watch and be ready.

Keep watch over your flock by night. (Lk. 2:8)
Watch and protect.

Watch, stand fast in the faith,
be strong, be manly men. (1 Cor. 16:13)
Watch and stand tall.

Watch with perseverance and pray diligently for all saints. (Eph.6:18)
Watch and care for others.

Be watchful and keep your clothes on and keep them white. (Rev. 16:15)
Watch and be pure.

Watch.
Pray.
Watch and Pray.

Not-
Watch and fret.

Not-
Watch and run.

Not-
Watch and hide.

But
Watch and pray.
Watch and pray.
Watch and pray.