Watching — the Problem and the Solution

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Title: Watching — the Problem and the Solution-------------------------- Date: 9/15/2001
Keywords: "pray" "watch"
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Passage: Matthew 26:41*

"Keep watching and praying, that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."

Questions

1. As Jesus is speaking to three of His disciples — Peter, James and John — He tells them to do two things in the first sentence of this verse. What are those two things?

 

2. If they do those two things, what will happen?

 

3. What part of the believer is "willing"? Willing to do what? What part is "weak"? Weak for what purpose?

 

Practical help

Prayer is the believer’s most obvious means of expressing dependence on God. We expect Jesus to counsel His men to pray. They are about to face their most serious temptation. Prayer will be one of their two sources of strength to stand firm.

"Watching" may take us by surprise, though. Watch what, we ask? Answer: Watch out for the potential for falling. Keep your spiritual eyes on God.

What application do Jesus’ words have to the person who struggles with porn? Pray, obviously, if you want to stand firm, pray. And WATCH.

"Watching" is the problem with porn, but the problem is not THAT we watch, but WHAT we watch. If you want to stand firm against the temptation to view smut, take Jesus’ advice and express your dependence on God in prayer — and watch. Watch out that you don’t put yourself in harm’s way by walking into temptation. On the video projector of your mind, watch the truth of God’s Word.


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*"Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, © Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission."