Standing Up to Temptation

Matthew 26:41
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Pastor Colin Smith discusses the concept of spiritual vigilance in the Christian life, comparing it to a triathlon with three parts: the Inside Story of human life, the Inside Story of the Christian life, and battling against sin. He emphasises that being a Christian involves being in Christ and in the body simultaneously, which leads to a lifelong struggle against sin and temptation.

Pastor Colin explains that sin does not die unless it is continually weakened and uses the analogy of a football game to illustrate the importance of making progress in one’s spiritual battle. He brings in teachings from John Owen, particularly the phrase, “always be killing sin, or it will be killing you,” emphasising the necessity to act early and often in resisting sin.

The sermon references Jesus’ words in Matthew 26:41, “watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” Pastor Colin highlights the difference between being tempted and falling into temptation, urging believers to be vigilant and prayerful to avoid the snares of sin.

He underscores the importance of knowing oneself, identifying primary spiritual battles, and being aware of one’s most vulnerable times. He advises reflecting on past failures to better combat future temptations.

Pastor Colin concludes by underscoring the gracious and interceding role of Jesus Christ for believers, reminding listeners that they are not alone in their spiritual battles. The overall message is a call to a balanced discipline of watchfulness and prayer, supported by the strength and intercession of Christ.

1 00:00:00,000 –> 00:00:04,000 Call July 2nd at 1-877-OPEN365 2 00:00:05,000 –> 00:00:07,000 We’re listening to a sermon from Pastor Colin Smith of Open the Bible. 3 00:00:08,000 –> 00:00:12,000 To contact us call us at 1-877-OPEN-365 4 00:00:13,000 –> 00:00:18,000 or visit our website openthebible.org 5 00:00:18,000 –> 00:00:22,000 Let’s get to the message. Here is Pastor Colin. 6 00:00:23,000 –> 00:00:26,000 We like in this series that we’re calling The Inside Story 7 00:00:26,000 –> 00:00:29,000 to a triathlon one event with three 8 00:00:30,000 –> 00:00:32,000 parts and we’ve come through stage one which was 9 00:00:32,000 –> 00:00:35,000 the Inside Story of human life 10 00:00:35,000 –> 00:00:37,000 and today we conclude the second part 11 00:00:37,000 –> 00:00:39,000 which is the Inside Story of the Christian life. 12 00:00:40,000 –> 00:00:42,000 So we’ve kind of in triathlon terms 13 00:00:42,000 –> 00:00:43,000 we’ve done the swim and we’ve done the bike. 14 00:00:44,000 –> 00:00:47,000 Today we come to the last part then of the second stage 15 00:00:47,000 –> 00:00:49,000 of the series 16 00:00:49,000 –> 00:00:52,000 as we’ve been looking at the Inside Story 17 00:00:52,000 –> 00:00:54,000 of the Christian life. 18 00:00:55,000 –> 00:00:57,000 The Inside Story really boils down to this 19 00:00:57,000 –> 00:00:59,000 that a Christian is a person who is in Christ 20 00:00:59,000 –> 00:01:01,000 and in the body at the same time. 21 00:01:03,000 –> 00:01:05,000 Being in Christ means that we have the power to live 22 00:01:05,000 –> 00:01:07,000 a new life but being in the body means 23 00:01:07,000 –> 00:01:09,000 that we face all kinds of pressures and battles. 24 00:01:11,000 –> 00:01:13,000 This means that the normal Christian life 25 00:01:13,000 –> 00:01:15,000 is a lifelong warfare against sin 26 00:01:15,000 –> 00:01:17,000 and against temptation 27 00:01:17,000 –> 00:01:19,000 that is constantly landing in our lives. 28 00:01:19,000 –> 00:01:22,000 The flesh provides a landing place 29 00:01:22,000 –> 00:01:24,000 for the impulse to sin. 30 00:01:24,000 –> 00:01:26,000 And we saw that sin itself 31 00:01:26,000 –> 00:01:28,000 does not die in our lives unless 32 00:01:28,000 –> 00:01:30,000 it be constantly weakened. 33 00:01:30,000 –> 00:01:32,000 Spare it and it renews its strength. 34 00:01:32,000 –> 00:01:34,000 We learned from John Owen a great phrase 35 00:01:34,000 –> 00:01:36,000 it says, 36 00:01:36,000 –> 00:01:38,000 always be killing sin 37 00:01:38,000 –> 00:01:40,000 or it will be killing you. 38 00:01:40,000 –> 00:01:42,000 And he got that from Romans 8 39 00:01:42,000 –> 00:01:44,000 verse 13, where we are told 40 00:01:44,000 –> 00:01:46,000 that we are to put to death the misdeeds 41 00:01:46,000 –> 00:01:48,000 of the body by the power 42 00:01:48,000 –> 00:01:50,000 of the Holy Spirit. 43 00:01:50,000 –> 00:01:52,000 We learned this word mortification, 44 00:01:52,000 –> 00:01:54,000 putting to death the misdeeds of the body, 45 00:01:54,000 –> 00:01:56,000 putting off the chutes of sin 46 00:01:56,000 –> 00:01:58,000 before they establish themselves 47 00:01:58,000 –> 00:02:00,000 in our lives. Act early, 48 00:02:00,000 –> 00:02:02,000 act often. We saw that 49 00:02:02,000 –> 00:02:04,000 every time you say no to 50 00:02:04,000 –> 00:02:06,000 a particular sin or temptation 51 00:02:06,000 –> 00:02:08,000 you weaken its power in your life 52 00:02:08,000 –> 00:02:10,000 you gain against it. 53 00:02:10,000 –> 00:02:12,000 But every time you say yes to a sin 54 00:02:12,000 –> 00:02:14,000 or a temptation you actually increase 55 00:02:14,000 –> 00:02:16,000 its power in your life. Sin as it were 56 00:02:16,000 –> 00:02:18,000 moves forward against you. 57 00:02:18,000 –> 00:02:20,000 We liken this to the analogy 58 00:02:20,000 –> 00:02:22,000 of a football game which is all around yardage 59 00:02:22,000 –> 00:02:24,000 and gaining possession and where the 60 00:02:24,000 –> 00:02:26,000 initiative and the momentum is 61 00:02:26,000 –> 00:02:28,000 and we said move the ball 62 00:02:28,000 –> 00:02:30,000 forward by winning some battles 63 00:02:30,000 –> 00:02:32,000 in your war against 64 00:02:32,000 –> 00:02:34,000 the flesh. 65 00:02:34,000 –> 00:02:36,000 Well these are some of the dynamics of the Christian life 66 00:02:36,000 –> 00:02:38,000 that all of us experience 67 00:02:38,000 –> 00:02:40,000 and today as we wrap up this part 68 00:02:40,000 –> 00:02:42,000 of the series 69 00:02:42,000 –> 00:02:44,000 I’d like to draw your attention to Matthew 70 00:02:44,000 –> 00:02:46,000 chapter 26 and 71 00:02:46,000 –> 00:02:48,000 verse 41. These 72 00:02:48,000 –> 00:02:50,000 are the words of Jesus 73 00:02:50,000 –> 00:02:52,000 restating to our battle with temptation 74 00:02:52,000 –> 00:02:54,000 Matthew chapter 75 00:02:54,000 –> 00:02:56,000 26 and verse 76 00:02:56,000 –> 00:02:58,000 41. 77 00:02:58,000 –> 00:03:00,000 Jesus comes to the disciples 78 00:03:00,000 –> 00:03:02,000 in the garden of Gethsemane 79 00:03:02,000 –> 00:03:04,000 he has been praying and he has 80 00:03:04,000 –> 00:03:06,000 asked them to watch 81 00:03:06,000 –> 00:03:08,000 with him and he says 82 00:03:08,000 –> 00:03:10,000 these words, watch 83 00:03:10,000 –> 00:03:12,000 and pray 84 00:03:12,000 –> 00:03:14,000 so that you will 85 00:03:14,000 –> 00:03:16,000 not fall into temptation 86 00:03:16,000 –> 00:03:18,000 the spirit is willing 87 00:03:18,000 –> 00:03:20,000 but the body 88 00:03:20,000 –> 00:03:22,000 is weak 89 00:03:22,000 –> 00:03:24,000 and most of us will be familiar with these words 90 00:03:24,000 –> 00:03:26,000 but I wonder how much you have thought about them 91 00:03:26,000 –> 00:03:28,000 What does it mean to fall 92 00:03:28,000 –> 00:03:30,000 into temptation 93 00:03:30,000 –> 00:03:32,000 is that different from being tempted 94 00:03:32,000 –> 00:03:34,000 and if so how 95 00:03:34,000 –> 00:03:36,000 What particularly 96 00:03:36,000 –> 00:03:38,000 does it mean to watch 97 00:03:38,000 –> 00:03:40,000 how would you do that this week 98 00:03:40,000 –> 00:03:42,000 what are the parts of watching 99 00:03:42,000 –> 00:03:44,000 and how particularly 100 00:03:44,000 –> 00:03:46,000 should you pray in such 101 00:03:46,000 –> 00:03:48,000 a way that you will prevail 102 00:03:48,000 –> 00:03:50,000 and you will not 103 00:03:50,000 –> 00:03:52,000 do, as Jesus says here, fall 104 00:03:52,000 –> 00:03:54,000 in to temptation 105 00:03:54,000 –> 00:03:56,000 these are real questions of the most practical 106 00:03:56,000 –> 00:03:58,000 sort 107 00:03:58,000 –> 00:04:00,000 and as we conclude this part of the series 108 00:04:00,000 –> 00:04:02,000 I want to speak to you as practically 109 00:04:02,000 –> 00:04:04,000 as I possibly can 110 00:04:04,000 –> 00:04:06,000 about the battle that all of us 111 00:04:06,000 –> 00:04:08,000 are engaged with 112 00:04:08,000 –> 00:04:10,000 all the time against various forms 113 00:04:10,000 –> 00:04:12,000 of temptation that come 114 00:04:12,000 –> 00:04:14,000 into our lives 115 00:04:14,000 –> 00:04:16,000 the place to start is surely here 116 00:04:16,000 –> 00:04:18,000 all of us are tempted 117 00:04:18,000 –> 00:04:20,000 we’ve seen in this series that as long as we are in the body 118 00:04:20,000 –> 00:04:22,000 temptation can reach us 119 00:04:22,000 –> 00:04:24,000 the impulse to sin has a landing place 120 00:04:24,000 –> 00:04:26,000 in the flesh 121 00:04:26,000 –> 00:04:28,000 and so it’s very significant that Jesus 122 00:04:28,000 –> 00:04:30,000 does not say, watch and pray 123 00:04:30,000 –> 00:04:32,000 so you won’t be tempted 124 00:04:32,000 –> 00:04:34,000 the New Testament never holds out the prospect 125 00:04:34,000 –> 00:04:36,000 of a time in this life 126 00:04:36,000 –> 00:04:38,000 when a Christian is somehow beyond temtation 127 00:04:38,000 –> 00:04:40,000 that belongs to heaven 128 00:04:40,000 –> 00:04:42,000 but in this life 129 00:04:42,000 –> 00:04:44,000 you will experience temptation 130 00:04:44,000 –> 00:04:46,000 as long as you are in the flesh 131 00:04:46,000 –> 00:04:48,000 so what Jesus says 132 00:04:48,000 –> 00:04:50,000 is watch and pray so that you will not fall 133 00:04:50,000 –> 00:04:52,000 into temptation 134 00:04:52,000 –> 00:04:54,000 or literally translated 135 00:04:54,000 –> 00:04:58,000 so that you will not ENTER into temptation 136 00:04:58,000 –> 00:05:00,000 again our friend John Owen is helpful here 137 00:05:00,000 –> 00:05:02,000 he says that entering 138 00:05:02,000 –> 00:05:04,000 into temptation has two distinct features 139 00:05:06,000 –> 00:05:08,000 the first is that Satan becomes 140 00:05:08,000 –> 00:05:10,000 more earnest than usual 141 00:05:10,000 –> 00:05:12,000 now that is very important to grasp 142 00:05:12,000 –> 00:05:14,000 not all days are the same 143 00:05:14,000 –> 00:05:16,000 in the Christian life 144 00:05:16,000 –> 00:05:18,000 we read from Ephesians. Chapter 6 145 00:05:18,000 –> 00:05:20,000 of particular days 146 00:05:20,000 –> 00:05:22,000 that are described as the day of evil 147 00:05:22,000 –> 00:05:24,000 a time when 148 00:05:24,000 –> 00:05:26,000 Satan’s temptations and his attack 149 00:05:26,000 –> 00:05:28,000 against you may come with particular 150 00:05:28,000 –> 00:05:30,000 vigour and particular strength 151 00:05:30,000 –> 00:05:32,000 a time when you may be 152 00:05:32,000 –> 00:05:34,000 especially tested at another level 153 00:05:34,000 –> 00:05:36,000 from the way in which it happens 154 00:05:36,000 –> 00:05:38,000 in other occasions or more ordinary 155 00:05:38,000 –> 00:05:40,000 circumstances of your Christian life 156 00:05:40,000 –> 00:05:42,000 and Owen says 157 00:05:42,000 –> 00:05:44,000 we have to be awake to these times 158 00:05:44,000 –> 00:05:46,000 there is a time, he says 159 00:05:46,000 –> 00:05:48,000 where temptation comes to its high noon 160 00:05:48,000 –> 00:05:50,000 and its power 161 00:05:50,000 –> 00:05:52,000 seems to reach 162 00:05:52,000 –> 00:05:54,000 a particular intensity in a person’s 163 00:05:54,000 –> 00:05:56,000 life and 164 00:05:56,000 –> 00:05:58,000 that is what Paul describes 165 00:05:58,000 –> 00:06:00,000 as the day of evil 166 00:06:00,000 –> 00:06:02,000 and the second mark of 167 00:06:02,000 –> 00:06:04,000 entering into temptation 168 00:06:04,000 –> 00:06:06,000 is that it is a time when the heart is 169 00:06:06,000 –> 00:06:08,000 unable to escape 170 00:06:08,000 –> 00:06:10,000 from the trap of a particular 171 00:06:10,000 –> 00:06:12,000 temptation. So if you 172 00:06:12,000 –> 00:06:14,000 think about your Christian life 173 00:06:14,000 –> 00:06:16,000 temptations come and you 174 00:06:16,000 –> 00:06:18,000 are often able to push them 175 00:06:18,000 –> 00:06:20,000 off and that may involve some 176 00:06:20,000 –> 00:06:22,000 degree of struggle or battle 177 00:06:22,000 –> 00:06:24,000 but you are able to do this usually without 178 00:06:24,000 –> 00:06:26,000 particular difficulty 179 00:06:26,000 –> 00:06:28,000 but there may come a time 180 00:06:28,000 –> 00:06:30,000 Owen says when you find that a particular 181 00:06:30,000 –> 00:06:32,000 temptation has gained power 182 00:06:32,000 –> 00:06:34,000 and it has gained vigor 183 00:06:34,000 –> 00:06:36,000 and you find yourself 184 00:06:36,000 –> 00:06:38,000 divided. You want to reject 185 00:06:38,000 –> 00:06:40,000 this temptation but at the same 186 00:06:40,000 –> 00:06:42,000 time you are unable to wholly 187 00:06:42,000 –> 00:06:44,000 free yourself from 188 00:06:44,000 –> 00:06:46,000 it. 189 00:06:46,000 –> 00:06:48,000 I am trying to think of an illustration 190 00:06:48,000 –> 00:06:50,000 that would to help to make this 191 00:06:50,000 –> 00:06:52,000 clear. Think with me about a salesman 192 00:06:52,000 –> 00:06:54,000 who comes knocking on your door 193 00:06:54,000 –> 00:06:56,000 and he or she 194 00:06:56,000 –> 00:06:58,000 has something to offer 195 00:06:58,000 –> 00:07:00,000 and wants to engage you in conversation 196 00:07:00,000 –> 00:07:02,000 you open the door 197 00:07:02,000 –> 00:07:04,000 and realize that it is a salesperson 198 00:07:04,000 –> 00:07:06,000 and it is really not terribly difficult 199 00:07:06,000 –> 00:07:08,000 at that point, to say, well I am terribly 200 00:07:08,000 –> 00:07:10,000 busy and I am 201 00:07:10,000 –> 00:07:12,000 not interested in this and why don’t you 202 00:07:12,000 –> 00:07:14,000 go and talk to these wonderful people 203 00:07:14,000 –> 00:07:16,000 who live next door just 204 00:07:16,000 –> 00:07:18,000 on the street and say, that’s not terribly 205 00:07:18,000 –> 00:07:20,000 difficult, is it? 206 00:07:20,000 –> 00:07:22,000 But suppose alternatively 207 00:07:22,000 –> 00:07:24,000 you say, well come in 208 00:07:24,000 –> 00:07:26,000 and they sit down on your sofa there in your living 209 00:07:26,000 –> 00:07:28,000 room and so the salesperson now gets 210 00:07:28,000 –> 00:07:30,000 out the product and goes through the routine 211 00:07:30,000 –> 00:07:32,000 and talks to you about how much 212 00:07:32,000 –> 00:07:34,000 you need this thing that he has 213 00:07:34,000 –> 00:07:36,000 and how much better 214 00:07:36,000 –> 00:07:38,000 your life will be when you get it and how there’s 215 00:07:38,000 –> 00:07:40,000 never been a better time to get it than now 216 00:07:40,000 –> 00:07:42,000 and so forth and so on. And as you 217 00:07:42,000 –> 00:07:44,000 listen to him, what happens? Your heart 218 00:07:44,000 –> 00:07:46,000 and your mind gets engaged. Some 219 00:07:46,000 –> 00:07:48,000 rapport develops between you 220 00:07:48,000 –> 00:07:50,000 and this person! And now 221 00:07:50,000 –> 00:07:52,000 it is much 222 00:07:52,000 –> 00:07:54,000 harder to say get out of 223 00:07:54,000 –> 00:07:56,000 here, isn’t it? It really is! 224 00:07:56,000 –> 00:07:58,000 It really is! 225 00:07:58,000 –> 00:08:00,000 Now, this is what it means to enter 226 00:08:00,000 –> 00:08:02,000 into temptation. 227 00:08:02,000 –> 00:08:04,000 You’re engaged with it, 228 00:08:04,000 –> 00:08:06,000 you’ve become connected to 229 00:08:06,000 –> 00:08:08,000 it, you’ve become involved in it. 230 00:08:08,000 –> 00:08:10,000 This impulse to sin that 231 00:08:10,000 –> 00:08:12,000 first landed in your flesh, it’s 232 00:08:12,000 –> 00:08:14,000 now worked its way into you affections 233 00:08:14,000 –> 00:08:16,000 and your heart is now 234 00:08:16,000 –> 00:08:18,000 divided. Yes because you’re 235 00:08:18,000 –> 00:08:20,000 a christian, you say no no, 236 00:08:20,000 –> 00:08:22,000 this is not what I should do. This is not what 237 00:08:22,000 –> 00:08:24,000 I should go. And yet there’s now a 238 00:08:24,000 –> 00:08:26,000 hold that this temptation has 239 00:08:26,000 –> 00:08:28,000 within you and you’re finding yourself 240 00:08:28,000 –> 00:08:30,000 in great difficulty. 241 00:08:30,000 –> 00:08:32,000 Now Jesus says, 242 00:08:32,000 –> 00:08:34,000 Watch and pray 243 00:08:34,000 –> 00:08:36,000 so that you don’t end up in that position. 244 00:08:36,000 –> 00:08:38,000 That is 245 00:08:38,000 –> 00:08:40,000 not where you want to be. 246 00:08:40,000 –> 00:08:42,000 Now you’ll see immediately 247 00:08:42,000 –> 00:08:44,000 that this fits exactly with 248 00:08:44,000 –> 00:08:46,000 all we’ve been learning in this series. 249 00:08:46,000 –> 00:08:48,000 We have been seeing 250 00:08:48,000 –> 00:08:50,000 the way temptation works 251 00:08:50,000 –> 00:08:52,000 is that it grows 252 00:08:52,000 –> 00:08:54,000 in power as 253 00:08:54,000 –> 00:08:56,000 it builds a position 254 00:08:56,000 –> 00:08:58,000 in your life. 255 00:08:58,000 –> 00:09:00,000 It wants to get, as it were, from knocking 256 00:09:00,000 –> 00:09:02,000 on the door to sitting there in the sofa 257 00:09:02,000 –> 00:09:04,000 and engaging you heart to heart 258 00:09:04,000 –> 00:09:06,000 so that you become involved 259 00:09:06,000 –> 00:09:08,000 and it’s now very, very hard to say no. 260 00:09:08,000 –> 00:09:10,000 And Jesus says, 261 00:09:10,000 –> 00:09:12,000 now that’s what you must not let happen. 262 00:09:12,000 –> 00:09:14,000 You must watch and pray so that 263 00:09:14,000 –> 00:09:16,000 you do not enter into 264 00:09:16,000 –> 00:09:17,000 temptation 265 00:09:18,000 –> 00:09:20,000 The way temptation works 266 00:09:20,000 –> 00:09:22,000 is all about 267 00:09:22,000 –> 00:09:24,000 a position in your life. 268 00:09:24,000 –> 00:09:26,000 And 269 00:09:26,000 –> 00:09:28,000 that’s why we use the analogy of football, 270 00:09:28,000 –> 00:09:30,000 of moving the ball forward. 271 00:09:30,000 –> 00:09:32,000 You see the game is about a positioning 272 00:09:32,000 –> 00:09:34,000 that’s not the only analogy. Think about the 273 00:09:34,000 –> 00:09:36,000 game of Chess. 274 00:09:36,000 –> 00:09:38,000 Here’s this Grand Master 275 00:09:38,000 –> 00:09:40,000 and you’re sitting on the other 276 00:09:40,000 –> 00:09:42,000 side of the board, trying 277 00:09:42,000 –> 00:09:44,000 to move your pieces around against him 278 00:09:44,000 –> 00:09:46,000 and you know you’re going to lose 279 00:09:46,000 –> 00:09:48,000 and how does he win? He doesn’t 280 00:09:48,000 –> 00:09:50,000 win by making one move on 281 00:09:50,000 –> 00:09:52,000 the other word. No, what he 282 00:09:52,000 –> 00:09:54,000 does is he gradually builds a position 283 00:09:54,000 –> 00:09:56,000 you see. He moves 284 00:09:56,000 –> 00:09:58,000 his pieces onto the strategic 285 00:09:58,000 –> 00:10:00,000 squares and every 286 00:10:00,000 –> 00:10:02,000 time he takes another strategic 287 00:10:02,000 –> 00:10:04,000 square and he moves another key 288 00:10:04,000 –> 00:10:06,000 piece you’re going oh boy I’m in a worse position 289 00:10:06,000 –> 00:10:08,000 I’m in a worse position and 290 00:10:08,000 –> 00:10:10,000 gradually as it were, the whole thing 291 00:10:10,000 –> 00:10:12,000 is tightening until in the end you have no place 292 00:10:12,000 –> 00:10:14,000 to go. And your king 293 00:10:14,000 –> 00:10:16,000 gets knocked over and you have lost the game. 294 00:10:16,000 –> 00:10:18,000 It’s the same in a 295 00:10:18,000 –> 00:10:20,000 company, when there is a hostile takeover. 296 00:10:20,000 –> 00:10:22,000 How does a hostile takeover happen? 297 00:10:22,000 –> 00:10:24,000 It doesn’t happen all in a moment 298 00:10:24,000 –> 00:10:26,000 It happens by the 299 00:10:26,000 –> 00:10:28,000 company that is seeking to 300 00:10:28,000 –> 00:10:30,000 make this takeover 301 00:10:30,000 –> 00:10:32,000 it develops a position 302 00:10:32,000 –> 00:10:34,000 They position themselves with regards 303 00:10:34,000 –> 00:10:36,000 to shares and then a seed on the board 304 00:10:36,000 –> 00:10:38,000 and then more seeds on the board and more influence 305 00:10:38,000 –> 00:10:40,000 and alliance and eventually 306 00:10:40,000 –> 00:10:42,000 a circumstance has come where the 307 00:10:42,000 –> 00:10:44,000 position has been built 308 00:10:44,000 –> 00:10:46,000 where the takeover is inevitable you see 309 00:10:46,000 –> 00:10:48,000 This is exactly how 310 00:10:48,000 –> 00:10:50,000 temptation works 311 00:10:50,000 –> 00:10:52,000 it’s the same in warfare 312 00:10:52,000 –> 00:10:54,000 If you study the history of great battles in the 313 00:10:54,000 –> 00:10:56,000 history of the world, you will find this 314 00:10:56,000 –> 00:10:58,000 that they were won or lost by the strategy 315 00:10:58,000 –> 00:11:00,000 of the generals who were able 316 00:11:00,000 –> 00:11:02,000 to say now this unit must 317 00:11:02,000 –> 00:11:04,000 take this particular piece of high ground 318 00:11:04,000 –> 00:11:06,000 that is strategic and then 319 00:11:06,000 –> 00:11:08,000 you guys have to move over this side of the flank 320 00:11:08,000 –> 00:11:10,000 and the position is developed 321 00:11:10,000 –> 00:11:12,000 and eventually 322 00:11:12,000 –> 00:11:14,000 position is achieved 323 00:11:14,000 –> 00:11:16,000 within which the enemies 324 00:11:16,000 –> 00:11:18,000 whole situation becomes untenable 325 00:11:18,000 –> 00:11:20,000 and the whole thing collapses 326 00:11:20,000 –> 00:11:22,000 Think about what is happening 327 00:11:22,000 –> 00:11:24,000 in the Garden of Gethsemane 328 00:11:25,000 –> 00:11:27,000 Here’s Jesus and he’s engaged 329 00:11:27,000 –> 00:11:29,000 in prayer and this battle is 330 00:11:29,000 –> 00:11:31,000 raging 331 00:11:31,000 –> 00:11:33,000 What is Satan doing? 332 00:11:33,000 –> 00:11:35,000 Satan is trying to build 333 00:11:35,000 –> 00:11:37,000 a position in which he can prevail 334 00:11:38,000 –> 00:11:40,000 and already he’s worked 335 00:11:40,000 –> 00:11:42,000 his way into the heart of Judas 336 00:11:42,000 –> 00:11:44,000 He can’t work his way 337 00:11:44,000 –> 00:11:46,000 into the heart of Jesus as Jesus 338 00:11:46,000 –> 00:11:48,000 resistor all the enslaught’s 339 00:11:48,000 –> 00:11:50,000 of the enemy 340 00:11:50,000 –> 00:11:52,000 And as Jesus is praying, now he comes over 341 00:11:52,000 –> 00:11:54,000 to these three disciples and what is 342 00:11:54,000 –> 00:11:56,000 happening is that Satan is going to go after 343 00:11:56,000 –> 00:11:58,000 them as well that is part of his building 344 00:11:58,000 –> 00:12:00,000 the position 345 00:12:00,000 –> 00:12:02,000 And Jesus says here’s what you are going to have to do 346 00:12:02,000 –> 00:12:04,000 You are going to have to 347 00:12:04,000 –> 00:12:06,000 watch 348 00:12:06,000 –> 00:12:08,000 You are going to have to pray 349 00:12:08,000 –> 00:12:10,000 So that you 350 00:12:10,000 –> 00:12:12,000 do not fall 351 00:12:12,000 –> 00:12:14,000 into temptation 352 00:12:14,000 –> 00:12:16,000 don’t get into 353 00:12:16,000 –> 00:12:18,000 the position 354 00:12:18,000 –> 00:12:20,000 where sin has gained 355 00:12:20,000 –> 00:12:22,000 an overwhelming power over 356 00:12:22,000 –> 00:12:24,000 You 357 00:12:24,000 –> 00:12:26,000 Now friends, this is a word of great importance 358 00:12:26,000 –> 00:12:28,000 for us 359 00:12:28,000 –> 00:12:30,000 Because temptations 360 00:12:30,000 –> 00:12:32,000 come to you 361 00:12:32,000 –> 00:12:34,000 And come to me and they will come 362 00:12:34,000 –> 00:12:36,000 to us this week 363 00:12:36,000 –> 00:12:38,000 And you will 364 00:12:38,000 –> 00:12:40,000 find yourself engaged in this warfare 365 00:12:40,000 –> 00:12:42,000 and Satan 366 00:12:42,000 –> 00:12:44,000 will be seeking to build 367 00:12:44,000 –> 00:12:46,000 a position from which you 368 00:12:46,000 –> 00:12:48,000 will fall 369 00:12:48,000 –> 00:12:50,000 to mount the pressure 370 00:12:52,000 –> 00:12:54,000 And Jesus says this is what you must therefore 371 00:12:54,000 –> 00:12:56,000 do. You have to watch 372 00:12:56,000 –> 00:12:58,000 And you have to pray 373 00:12:58,000 –> 00:13:00,000 So that you 374 00:13:00,000 –> 00:13:02,000 will not fall into 375 00:13:02,000 –> 00:13:04,000 temptation 376 00:13:04,000 –> 00:13:06,000 Now, what does this mean 377 00:13:06,000 –> 00:13:08,000 and what does it look like 378 00:13:08,000 –> 00:13:10,000 and how can you do it 379 00:13:12,000 –> 00:13:14,000 Watch 380 00:13:14,000 –> 00:13:16,000 What does it mean to watch 381 00:13:16,000 –> 00:13:18,000 What would you watch 382 00:13:18,000 –> 00:13:20,000 for this week 383 00:13:20,000 –> 00:13:22,000 Let me suggest 384 00:13:22,000 –> 00:13:24,000 three angles of watching 385 00:13:24,000 –> 00:13:26,000 for you 386 00:13:26,000 –> 00:13:28,000 The first is, Watch by 387 00:13:28,000 –> 00:13:30,000 identifying your 388 00:13:30,000 –> 00:13:32,000 primary battles 389 00:13:32,000 –> 00:13:34,000 What are 390 00:13:34,000 –> 00:13:36,000 your primary battles 391 00:13:36,000 –> 00:13:38,000 Could you write down the top 3 right now 392 00:13:40,000 –> 00:13:42,000 If you do not know what you are up against 393 00:13:42,000 –> 00:13:44,000 then you are not watching 394 00:13:44,000 –> 00:13:46,000 Now 395 00:13:46,000 –> 00:13:48,000 All Christians 396 00:13:48,000 –> 00:13:50,000 are tempted but not all Christians 397 00:13:50,000 –> 00:13:52,000 are tempted in precisely the same 398 00:13:52,000 –> 00:13:54,000 way, of course there are 399 00:13:54,000 –> 00:13:56,000 obvious temptations that are common to all 400 00:13:56,000 –> 00:13:58,000 But, 401 00:13:58,000 –> 00:14:00,000 remember what we saw from James 402 00:14:00,000 –> 00:14:02,000 in chapter 1 where he said that each one 403 00:14:02,000 –> 00:14:04,000 of us is tempted by his own 404 00:14:04,000 –> 00:14:06,000 evil desires 405 00:14:06,000 –> 00:14:08,000 In other words, James tells us that 406 00:14:08,000 –> 00:14:10,000 there are distinctive 407 00:14:10,000 –> 00:14:12,000 temptations that arise 408 00:14:12,000 –> 00:14:14,000 up from our own 409 00:14:14,000 –> 00:14:16,000 flesh 410 00:14:16,000 –> 00:14:18,000 And what that means is that 411 00:14:18,000 –> 00:14:20,000 your distinctive battles, the ones 412 00:14:20,000 –> 00:14:22,000 you face are to some extent 413 00:14:22,000 –> 00:14:24,000 rooted in your temperament 414 00:14:24,000 –> 00:14:26,000 and the ones that I face 415 00:14:26,000 –> 00:14:28,000 are to some extent rooted in mine 416 00:14:28,000 –> 00:14:30,000 All Christians 417 00:14:30,000 –> 00:14:32,000 are tempted, but we may be 418 00:14:32,000 –> 00:14:34,000 tempted in different ways and 419 00:14:34,000 –> 00:14:36,000 in different spheres 420 00:14:36,000 –> 00:14:38,000 So knowing yourself 421 00:14:38,000 –> 00:14:40,000 therefore is of huge 422 00:14:40,000 –> 00:14:42,000 importance in the Christian life 423 00:14:42,000 –> 00:14:44,000 John Calvin 424 00:14:44,000 –> 00:14:46,000 said on one occasion 425 00:14:46,000 –> 00:14:48,000 that nearly all the wisdom 426 00:14:48,000 –> 00:14:50,000 that we can possess in this world 427 00:14:50,000 –> 00:14:52,000 comes down to two things 428 00:14:52,000 –> 00:14:54,000 Knowing God and knowing yourself 429 00:14:54,000 –> 00:14:56,000 and then he said 430 00:14:56,000 –> 00:14:58,000 you can never get the one with out the other 431 00:14:58,000 –> 00:15:00,000 So knowing yourself 432 00:15:00,000 –> 00:15:02,000 is of huge importance 433 00:15:02,000 –> 00:15:04,000 huge importance 434 00:15:04,000 –> 00:15:06,000 I don’t 435 00:15:06,000 –> 00:15:08,000 often watch American 436 00:15:08,000 –> 00:15:10,000 Idol, but I’ve seen 437 00:15:10,000 –> 00:15:12,000 enough of this to get the general idea 438 00:15:12,000 –> 00:15:14,000 of the phenomenon. I mean the popularity 439 00:15:14,000 –> 00:15:16,000 of this show is remarkable 440 00:15:16,000 –> 00:15:18,000 and what has been so 441 00:15:18,000 –> 00:15:20,000 striking to me about it 442 00:15:20,000 –> 00:15:22,000 is the extraordinary number of people 443 00:15:22,000 –> 00:15:24,000 who seems to have no 444 00:15:24,000 –> 00:15:26,000 self knowledge what so ever 445 00:15:26,000 –> 00:15:28,000 I mean here is a woman 446 00:15:28,000 –> 00:15:30,000 and she comes on and she’s absolutely 447 00:15:30,000 –> 00:15:32,000 sure she can sing and she can’t have 448 00:15:32,000 –> 00:15:34,000 a note in tune you know 449 00:15:34,000 –> 00:15:36,000 and she comes on, the thing is an 450 00:15:36,000 –> 00:15:38,000 absolute disaster and the judges show 451 00:15:38,000 –> 00:15:40,000 mercy in telling her the absolute plain 452 00:15:40,000 –> 00:15:42,000 and unvarnished truth 453 00:15:42,000 –> 00:15:44,000 so what does she do, does she go away and say 454 00:15:44,000 –> 00:15:46,000 Oh thank you, now I have discovered something about myself 455 00:15:46,000 –> 00:15:48,000 I should do something different, no she 456 00:15:48,000 –> 00:15:50,000 doesn’t, she says I will 457 00:15:50,000 –> 00:15:52,000 prove to you, I will show these judges 458 00:15:52,000 –> 00:15:54,000 that they are wrong. she become more 459 00:15:54,000 –> 00:15:56,000 convinced than ever that she can see 460 00:15:56,000 –> 00:15:58,000 you know it’s easy 461 00:15:58,000 –> 00:16:00,000 isn’t it, we see it in other people 462 00:16:00,000 –> 00:16:02,000 how does she not see that 463 00:16:02,000 –> 00:16:04,000 about herself, how does he not see 464 00:16:04,000 –> 00:16:06,000 that about herself, how could 465 00:16:06,000 –> 00:16:08,000 anyone be so unaware 466 00:16:08,000 –> 00:16:10,000 but of course 467 00:16:10,000 –> 00:16:12,000 the real question is 468 00:16:12,000 –> 00:16:14,000 how aware am I of 469 00:16:14,000 –> 00:16:16,000 what’s going on in me 470 00:16:16,000 –> 00:16:18,000 how aware 471 00:16:18,000 –> 00:16:20,000 are you of what’s going on in 472 00:16:20,000 –> 00:16:22,000 in you, do you know your distinctive 473 00:16:22,000 –> 00:16:24,000 temptations and battles 474 00:16:24,000 –> 00:16:26,000 see 475 00:16:26,000 –> 00:16:28,000 think about it, the ways in which 476 00:16:28,000 –> 00:16:30,000 different people are tempted 477 00:16:30,000 –> 00:16:32,000 king david 478 00:16:32,000 –> 00:16:34,000 what kind of person was king david 479 00:16:34,000 –> 00:16:36,000 well you read his life story 480 00:16:36,000 –> 00:16:38,000 I think it is very fair to say 481 00:16:38,000 –> 00:16:40,000 by nature and temperament like a lot of us 482 00:16:40,000 –> 00:16:42,000 he was an impulsive person 483 00:16:42,000 –> 00:16:44,000 go for it kind of a guy 484 00:16:44,000 –> 00:16:46,000 now you 485 00:16:46,000 –> 00:16:48,000 think about his temptation 486 00:16:48,000 –> 00:16:50,000 when he sinned with Bathsheba 487 00:16:50,000 –> 00:16:52,000 you see how that arises 488 00:16:52,000 –> 00:16:54,000 right out of his own flesh 489 00:16:54,000 –> 00:16:56,000 he is an 490 00:16:56,000 –> 00:16:58,000 impulsive guy 491 00:16:58,000 –> 00:17:00,000 and he commits 492 00:17:00,000 –> 00:17:02,000 impulsive sins 493 00:17:04,000 –> 00:17:06,000 Jonah was the very opposite of an impulsive guy 494 00:17:06,000 –> 00:17:08,000 there wasn’t any impulse in him 495 00:17:08,000 –> 00:17:10,000 he was a guy who had sticky seat syndrome 496 00:17:10,000 –> 00:17:12,000 you might say 497 00:17:12,000 –> 00:17:14,000 I’m here and I’m not moving 498 00:17:14,000 –> 00:17:16,000 there is no impulse in him at all 499 00:17:16,000 –> 00:17:18,000 so what is the distinctive 500 00:17:18,000 –> 00:17:20,000 temptation that’s going to come to Jonah 501 00:17:21,000 –> 00:17:23,000 well to see god bringing revival 502 00:17:23,000 –> 00:17:25,000 to a city 503 00:17:25,000 –> 00:17:27,000 and to sit outside 504 00:17:27,000 –> 00:17:29,000 of a great work of God 505 00:17:29,000 –> 00:17:31,000 and to sit there sulking and self 506 00:17:31,000 –> 00:17:33,000 absorbed 507 00:17:33,000 –> 00:17:35,000 that is a totally different kind of temptation 508 00:17:35,000 –> 00:17:37,000 but it’s the way that Satan 509 00:17:37,000 –> 00:17:39,000 tempts a totally different kind of 510 00:17:39,000 –> 00:17:41,000 temperament 511 00:17:41,000 –> 00:17:43,000 now here is something that you might find helpful 512 00:17:43,000 –> 00:17:45,000 in life groups this week 513 00:17:45,000 –> 00:17:47,000 as we try to be really practical 514 00:17:47,000 –> 00:17:49,000 about this thing 515 00:17:49,000 –> 00:17:51,000 here’s my suggestion 516 00:17:51,000 –> 00:17:53,000 in the life groups get a sheet of paper 517 00:17:53,000 –> 00:17:55,000 and divide it into two columns 518 00:17:55,000 –> 00:17:57,000 and on one column write down all the different 519 00:17:57,000 –> 00:17:59,000 kind of personality types 520 00:17:59,000 –> 00:18:01,000 that you could think of and describe 521 00:18:01,000 –> 00:18:03,000 and then in the other column 522 00:18:03,000 –> 00:18:05,000 try to identify 523 00:18:05,000 –> 00:18:07,000 the particular temptations 524 00:18:07,000 –> 00:18:09,000 that you think 525 00:18:09,000 –> 00:18:11,000 each of these personality types 526 00:18:11,000 –> 00:18:13,000 or temperaments might be especially 527 00:18:13,000 –> 00:18:15,000 prone to 528 00:18:15,000 –> 00:18:17,000 once you’ve completed the sheet 529 00:18:17,000 –> 00:18:19,000 you’ll be able to quickly identify 530 00:18:19,000 –> 00:18:21,000 where you belong 531 00:18:21,000 –> 00:18:23,000 and you might just see more clearly 532 00:18:23,000 –> 00:18:25,000 some of the distinctive 533 00:18:25,000 –> 00:18:27,000 sins and battles 534 00:18:27,000 –> 00:18:29,000 that you’re up against 535 00:18:29,000 –> 00:18:31,000 I’m pleading with you to become 536 00:18:31,000 –> 00:18:33,000 a student of your own heart 537 00:18:33,000 –> 00:18:35,000 and to become wise 538 00:18:35,000 –> 00:18:37,000 in waging this spiritual warfare 539 00:18:37,000 –> 00:18:39,000 against our enemy the devil 540 00:18:39,000 –> 00:18:41,000 think of it this way 541 00:18:41,000 –> 00:18:43,000 a person who’s meticulous 542 00:18:43,000 –> 00:18:45,000 I’m just giving you a couple of things 543 00:18:45,000 –> 00:18:47,000 to get you started on the list 544 00:18:47,000 –> 00:18:49,000 you can do the rest it’s not difficult 545 00:18:49,000 –> 00:18:51,000 the person who is meticulous 546 00:18:51,000 –> 00:18:53,000 it’s a certain kind of person 547 00:18:53,000 –> 00:18:55,000 that person may very 548 00:18:55,000 –> 00:18:57,000 often be 549 00:18:57,000 –> 00:18:59,000 tempted to hold 550 00:18:59,000 –> 00:19:01,000 a grudge 551 00:19:01,000 –> 00:19:03,000 and not to forgive 552 00:19:03,000 –> 00:19:05,000 it might be a distinctive 553 00:19:05,000 –> 00:19:07,000 temptation if you’re a meticulous 554 00:19:07,000 –> 00:19:09,000 person that comes to you 555 00:19:09,000 –> 00:19:11,000 a person who is 556 00:19:11,000 –> 00:19:13,000 very cautious may be tempted to live 557 00:19:13,000 –> 00:19:15,000 life entirely on the 558 00:19:15,000 –> 00:19:17,000 basis of fear and never to take an initiative 559 00:19:17,000 –> 00:19:19,000 of faith 560 00:19:19,000 –> 00:19:21,000 a person 561 00:19:21,000 –> 00:19:23,000 who is a perfectionist will very 562 00:19:23,000 –> 00:19:25,000 often be tempted to sins of the tongue 563 00:19:25,000 –> 00:19:27,000 to a 564 00:19:27,000 –> 00:19:29,000 pattern of criticism 565 00:19:29,000 –> 00:19:31,000 nothing ever being good enough you become 566 00:19:31,000 –> 00:19:33,000 such a difficult person to live with 567 00:19:33,000 –> 00:19:35,000 and that’s your battle 568 00:19:37,000 –> 00:19:39,000 and what about 569 00:19:39,000 –> 00:19:41,000 cool dudes 570 00:19:43,000 –> 00:19:43,000 571 00:19:45,000 –> 00:19:47,000 what would be the temptation of a 572 00:19:47,000 –> 00:19:49,000 cool dude 573 00:19:51,000 –> 00:19:53,000 well, you see, would it not 574 00:19:53,000 –> 00:19:55,000 be something like this 575 00:19:55,000 –> 00:19:57,000 to never become sacrificially 576 00:19:57,000 –> 00:19:59,000 committed to anything 577 00:19:59,000 –> 00:20:01,000 to live within your comfort zone 578 00:20:01,000 –> 00:20:03,000 to go through your entire 579 00:20:03,000 –> 00:20:05,000 life and never to have spent a half night 580 00:20:05,000 –> 00:20:07,000 in prayer or to have given yourself 581 00:20:07,000 –> 00:20:09,000 something and never really 582 00:20:09,000 –> 00:20:11,000 to have launched out into the deep in a 583 00:20:11,000 –> 00:20:13,000 way that really was sacrificial 584 00:20:13,000 –> 00:20:15,000 and gave evidence that you were someone 585 00:20:15,000 –> 00:20:17,000 who was carrying the cross 586 00:20:17,000 –> 00:20:19,000 in following Jesus 587 00:20:21,000 –> 00:20:23,000 So, I’m saying to you, as Jesus 588 00:20:23,000 –> 00:20:25,000 calls us to watch so that we 589 00:20:25,000 –> 00:20:27,000 do not fall into temptation 590 00:20:27,000 –> 00:20:29,000 surely that begins by us having 591 00:20:29,000 –> 00:20:31,000 some awareness of our particular 592 00:20:31,000 –> 00:20:33,000 primary battles 593 00:20:33,000 –> 00:20:35,000 so that we know what we’re up against 594 00:20:35,000 –> 00:20:37,000 so we can win this war with our eyes open 595 00:20:37,000 –> 00:20:39,000 rather than wandering through the battlefield 596 00:20:39,000 –> 00:20:41,000 with our eyes closed 597 00:20:41,000 –> 00:20:43,000 Ask God to help you in this 598 00:20:43,000 –> 00:20:45,000 use the prayer of Psalm 139 599 00:20:45,000 –> 00:20:47,000 Oh God search me and know my heart 600 00:20:47,000 –> 00:20:49,000 and test me and know my anxious 601 00:20:49,000 –> 00:20:51,000 thoughts and see if there is any 602 00:20:51,000 –> 00:20:53,000 wicked way in me so that you 603 00:20:53,000 –> 00:20:55,000 may lead me in the way everlasting 604 00:20:56,000 –> 00:20:58,000 Identify your primary battles 605 00:20:58,000 –> 00:21:00,000 your distinctive 606 00:21:00,000 –> 00:21:01,000 areas of temptation 607 00:21:02,000 –> 00:21:04,000 2nd 608 00:21:04,000 –> 00:21:06,000 allows you to watch 609 00:21:06,000 –> 00:21:08,000 remember to note 610 00:21:08,000 –> 00:21:10,000 your most vulnerable times 611 00:21:12,000 –> 00:21:14,000 now 612 00:21:14,000 –> 00:21:16,000 folks this is practical someone said to me after the first service 613 00:21:16,000 –> 00:21:18,000 this is right down at the shoe 614 00:21:18,000 –> 00:21:20,000 leather kind of level 615 00:21:20,000 –> 00:21:22,000 it’s right out of the bible itself 616 00:21:22,000 –> 00:21:24,000 what was the circumstance 617 00:21:24,000 –> 00:21:26,000 in which of these men 618 00:21:26,000 –> 00:21:28,000 Jesus said to them 619 00:21:28,000 –> 00:21:30,000 watch and pray so you will not enter 620 00:21:30,000 –> 00:21:32,000 into temptation the first thing is very obvious 621 00:21:32,000 –> 00:21:34,000 we’re very tired 622 00:21:34,000 –> 00:21:36,000 this is late at night 623 00:21:36,000 –> 00:21:38,000 they’re in the garden of Gethsemane 624 00:21:38,000 –> 00:21:40,000 they’ve been engaged in ministry the whole week 625 00:21:40,000 –> 00:21:42,000 everyday debating answering 626 00:21:42,000 –> 00:21:44,000 questions and the whole thing 627 00:21:44,000 –> 00:21:46,000 has been exhausting 628 00:21:46,000 –> 00:21:48,000 they’re tired 629 00:21:48,000 –> 00:21:50,000 and 630 00:21:50,000 –> 00:21:52,000 when you’re tired 631 00:21:52,000 –> 00:21:54,000 you especially need to watch 632 00:21:54,000 –> 00:21:56,000 and pray because that is a 633 00:21:56,000 –> 00:21:58,000 particularly vulnerable season 634 00:21:58,000 –> 00:22:00,000 don’t you 635 00:22:00,000 –> 00:22:02,000 don’t you recognise that this part 636 00:22:02,000 –> 00:22:04,000 of the the reality of living 637 00:22:04,000 –> 00:22:06,000 in the body 638 0:22:06,000 –> 00:22:08,000 we all know this 639 00:22:08,000 –> 00:22:10,000 when I’m tired I don’t see 640 00:22:10,000 –> 00:22:12,000 things clearly 641 00:22:12,000 –> 00:22:14,000 I get things out of proportion 642 00:22:14,000 –> 00:22:16,000 I’m less careful in what I 643 00:22:16,000 –> 00:22:18,000 say 644 00:22:18,000 –> 00:22:20,000 I’m less patient, I’m more irritable 645 00:22:20,000 –> 00:22:22,000 I’m much more easily provoked 646 00:22:22,000 –> 00:22:24,000 so when I am 647 00:22:24,000 –> 00:22:26,000 tired I am more vulnerable 648 00:22:26,000 –> 00:22:28,000 to temptation 649 00:22:28,000 –> 00:22:30,000 you’ve found that in my life haven’t you 650 00:22:30,000 –> 00:22:32,000 and so at that time 651 00:22:32,000 –> 00:22:34,000 Jesus comes to them and he says 652 00:22:34,000 –> 00:22:36,000 watch and pray so that you do not enter 653 00:22:36,000 –> 00:22:38,000 into temptation 654 00:22:38,000 –> 00:22:40,000 here’s another part of the 655 00:22:40,000 –> 00:22:42,000 circumstance, another vulnerable time 656 00:22:42,000 –> 00:22:44,000 when a friend has failed 657 00:22:44,000 –> 00:22:46,000 never 658 00:22:46,000 –> 00:22:48,000 underestimate the impact 659 00:22:48,000 –> 00:22:50,000 of choices made by 660 00:22:50,000 –> 00:22:52,000 your friends, on your own following 661 00:22:52,000 –> 00:22:54,000 of Jesus 662 00:22:54,000 –> 00:22:56,000 and I say that because that’s exactly the context 663 00:22:56,000 –> 00:22:58,000 here. Remember Jesus had 12 664 00:22:58,000 –> 00:23:00,000 disciples, these guys have been 665 00:23:00,000 –> 00:23:02,000 a team, they’ve been together full time, three 666 00:23:02,000 –> 00:23:04,000 years, they’ve really bonded and what has 667 00:23:04,000 –> 00:23:06,000 just happened, one of them has walked out 668 00:23:06,000 –> 00:23:08,000 and left 669 00:23:08,000 –> 00:23:10,000 and the rest are all vulnerable 670 00:23:12,000 –> 00:23:14,000 your friend has an 671 00:23:14,000 –> 00:23:16,000 affair 672 00:23:16,000 –> 00:23:18,000 and suddenly that’s in your mind 673 00:23:18,000 –> 00:23:20,000 your friend 674 00:23:20,000 –> 00:23:22,000 tries a drug 675 00:23:22,000 –> 00:23:24,000 and you say she tried it 676 00:23:24,000 –> 00:23:26,000 wonder if I should 677 00:23:28,000 –> 00:23:30,000 when someone you 678 00:23:30,000 –> 00:23:32,000 know and love has fallen 679 00:23:32,000 –> 00:23:34,000 into a sin 680 00:23:36,000 –> 00:23:38,000 watch and pray 681 00:23:38,000 –> 00:23:40,000 watch and pray 682 00:23:40,000 –> 00:23:42,000 that’s why in Galatians Paul says 683 00:23:42,000 –> 00:23:44,000 if someone’s caught in a sin you who are spiritual 684 00:23:44,000 –> 00:23:46,000 should seek to restore 685 00:23:46,000 –> 00:23:48,000 him gently 686 00:23:48,000 –> 00:23:50,000 but watch yourself 687 00:23:50,000 –> 00:23:52,000 so that you will not always 688 00:23:52,000 –> 00:23:54,000 also be tempted 689 00:23:54,000 –> 00:23:56,000 and then obviously here 690 00:23:56,000 –> 00:23:58,000 we’re in a situation where people are very hostile 691 00:23:58,000 –> 00:24:00,000 to Jesus that’s another time that we 692 00:24:00,000 –> 00:24:02,000 especially need to watch and pray 693 00:24:02,000 –> 00:24:04,000 the soldiers are coming to arrest 694 00:24:04,000 –> 00:24:06,000 the Lord Jesus and then Peter’s going to go 695 00:24:06,000 –> 00:24:08,000 outside the high priest’s house the girl’s 696 00:24:08,000 –> 00:24:10,000 going to ask him about does 697 00:24:10,000 –> 00:24:12,000 he know Jesus and all the people 698 00:24:12,000 –> 00:24:14,000 there are against Jesus and when you’re 699 00:24:14,000 –> 00:24:16,000 in an environment in a school or a college 700 00:24:16,000 –> 00:24:18,000 or a business 701 00:24:18,000 –> 00:24:20,000 and the huge majority of people 702 00:24:20,000 –> 00:24:22,000 that are against Jesus, they’re hostile to Jesus 703 00:24:22,000 –> 00:24:24,000 the great pressure on you 704 00:24:24,000 –> 00:24:26,000 is to be really quiet and 705 00:24:26,000 –> 00:24:28,000 even to distance yourself 706 00:24:28,000 –> 00:24:30,000 from Jesus all together 707 00:24:30,000 –> 00:24:32,000 and as our culture becomes 708 00:24:32,000 –> 00:24:34,000 increasingly hostile towards Christ 709 00:24:34,000 –> 00:24:36,000 we need to watch 710 00:24:36,000 –> 00:24:38,000 and pray 711 00:24:38,000 –> 00:24:40,000 so that we do not fall into 712 00:24:40,000 –> 00:24:42,000 temptation, so we’re just trying to get 713 00:24:42,000 –> 00:24:44,000 a handle on what it means to watch 714 00:24:44,000 –> 00:24:46,000 and I’m saying to you 715 00:24:46,000 –> 00:24:48,000 identify your 716 00:24:48,000 –> 00:24:50,000 primary battles and take 717 00:24:50,000 –> 00:24:52,000 special note of seasons 718 00:24:52,000 –> 00:24:54,000 where you are most vulnerable 719 00:24:54,000 –> 00:24:56,000 when you’re very tired 720 00:24:56,000 –> 00:24:58,000 when a friend has 721 00:24:58,000 –> 00:25:00,000 fallen into great sin 722 00:25:00,000 –> 00:25:02,000 and that’s in your mind 723 00:25:02,000 –> 00:25:04,000 and times when you’re in an environment 724 00:25:04,000 –> 00:25:06,000 that’s very hostile to Jesus 725 00:25:06,000 –> 00:25:08,000 watch and pray so that you 726 00:25:08,000 –> 00:25:10,000 do not fall into temptation 727 00:25:10,000 –> 00:25:12,000 and here’s one more thing on the 728 00:25:12,000 –> 00:25:14,000 watching here 729 00:25:14,000 –> 00:25:16,000 a third way to watch is to study 730 00:25:16,000 –> 00:25:18,000 past experience 731 00:25:18,000 –> 00:25:20,000 and especially to reflect on 732 00:25:20,000 –> 00:25:22,000 past failures 733 00:25:22,000 –> 00:25:24,000 because reflecting on past failures 734 00:25:24,000 –> 00:25:26,000 is the best way to avoid 735 00:25:26,000 –> 00:25:28,000 repeating them 736 00:25:28,000 –> 00:25:30,000 never move on from 737 00:25:30,000 –> 00:25:32,000 sin until you 738 00:25:32,000 –> 00:25:34,000 have learnt from your failure 739 00:25:34,000 –> 00:25:36,000 how to do better 740 00:25:36,000 –> 00:25:38,000 in combating next time 741 00:25:38,000 –> 00:25:40,000 that’s a huge principle 742 00:25:40,000 –> 00:25:42,000 for Christian growth 743 00:25:42,000 –> 00:25:44,000 never put it behind you 744 00:25:44,000 –> 00:25:46,000 until you have learned 745 00:25:46,000 –> 00:25:48,000 from you own failure 746 00:25:48,000 –> 00:25:50,000 how you could do better 747 00:25:50,000 –> 00:25:52,000 in combating against 748 00:25:52,000 –> 00:25:54,000 next time because, for sure 749 00:25:54,000 –> 00:25:56,000 you’re going to be tempted in the same way another time 750 00:25:56,000 –> 00:25:58,000 learn from the sports guys on this 751 00:26:00,000 –> 00:26:02,000 see when the football defence team 752 00:26:02,000 –> 00:26:04,000 has conceded touchdowns 753 00:26:04,000 –> 00:26:06,000 what do they do when they come 754 00:26:06,000 –> 00:26:08,000 in on a Monday or on a Tuesday morning 755 00:26:08,000 –> 00:26:10,000 the defence are sitting 756 00:26:10,000 –> 00:26:12,000 there with their coach and they’re going to watch the video 757 00:26:12,000 –> 00:26:14,000 and they’re going to watch it again 758 00:26:14,000 –> 00:26:16,000 and again 759 00:26:16,000 –> 00:26:18,000 they’re going to watch it in slow motion they’re going to watch it from every angle 760 00:26:18,000 –> 00:26:20,000 how was it that we conceded 761 00:26:20,000 –> 00:26:22,000 that touchdown 762 00:26:22,000 –> 00:26:24,000 and what could we do next time 763 00:26:24,000 –> 00:26:26,000 against that play so that that play 764 00:26:26,000 –> 00:26:28,000 will not prevail against us 765 00:26:28,000 –> 00:26:30,000 where could we position 766 00:26:30,000 –> 00:26:32,000 ourselves better so that if that same play 767 00:26:32,000 –> 00:26:34,000 was run against us, we would be able to 768 00:26:34,000 –> 00:26:36,000 shut it out next time and they will not 769 00:26:36,000 –> 00:26:38,000 rest until they know how 770 00:26:38,000 –> 00:26:40,000 they would deal with it better another time 771 00:26:40,000 –> 00:26:42,000 now you see it’s exactly that same kind of 772 00:26:42,000 –> 00:26:44,000 thinking that is going to help 773 00:26:44,000 –> 00:26:46,000 us be those who watch 774 00:26:46,000 –> 00:26:48,000 with regards to temptation 775 00:26:48,000 –> 00:26:50,000 and therefore to grow in the Christian 776 00:26:50,000 –> 00:26:52,000 life John Owen is so 777 00:26:52,000 –> 00:26:54,000 wonderfully helpful on 778 00:26:54,000 –> 00:26:56,000 as he says we need to be 779 00:26:56,000 –> 00:26:58,000 intimately acquainted with the ways 780 00:26:58,000 –> 00:27:00,000 that gives sin its success 781 00:27:00,000 –> 00:27:02,000 he says this is how men 782 00:27:02,000 –> 00:27:04,000 deal with their enemies 783 00:27:04,000 –> 00:27:06,000 they search out their enemies plan 784 00:27:06,000 –> 00:27:08,000 and they ponder their goals and 785 00:27:08,000 –> 00:27:10,000 they consider by what means their 786 00:27:10,000 –> 00:27:12,000 enemies have prevailed over them in the past 787 00:27:12,000 –> 00:27:14,000 then the enemies can be defeated 788 00:27:14,000 –> 00:27:16,000 you can’t win any 789 00:27:16,000 –> 00:27:18,000 war without intelligence 790 00:27:18,000 –> 00:27:20,000 you have to look at the enemies strategy 791 00:27:20,000 –> 00:27:22,000 look at how he’s won, look at how he has 792 00:27:22,000 –> 00:27:24,000 prevailed, look at how he operates 793 00:27:24,000 –> 00:27:26,000 and then you are in a 794 00:27:26,000 –> 00:27:28,000 better position to fight the battle 795 00:27:28,000 –> 00:27:30,000 Owen says this 796 00:27:30,000 –> 00:27:32,000 one of the most important parts of spiritual 797 00:27:32,000 –> 00:27:34,000 wisdom is to find out 798 00:27:34,000 –> 00:27:36,000 how sin uses occasions 799 00:27:36,000 –> 00:27:38,000 or opportunities to gain an advantage 800 00:27:38,000 –> 00:27:40,000 see that’s part of 801 00:27:40,000 –> 00:27:42,000 learning 802 00:27:42,000 –> 00:27:44,000 to wage the warfare of the Christian 803 00:27:44,000 –> 00:27:46,000 life, how does sin get advantage 804 00:27:46,000 –> 00:27:48,000 over you, where, when how does it happen 805 00:27:48,000 –> 00:27:50,000 he 806 00:27:50,000 –> 00:27:52,000 says we need to trace the serpent 807 00:27:52,000 –> 00:27:54,000 and all it’s turnings and it’s windings 808 00:27:54,000 –> 00:27:56,000 and it’s secret tricks and bring them out 809 00:27:56,000 –> 00:27:58,000 into the open and then he says this 810 00:27:58,000 –> 00:28:00,000 we must get to the place 811 00:28:00,000 –> 00:28:02,000 where we are able to say to sin 812 00:28:02,000 –> 00:28:04,000 this 813 00:28:04,000 –> 00:28:06,000 is your usual method 814 00:28:06,000 –> 00:28:08,000 and I 815 00:28:08,000 –> 00:28:10,000 know what you are up to 816 00:28:10,000 –> 00:28:12,000 I really love that 817 00:28:12,000 –> 00:28:14,000 where you could say to a temptation 818 00:28:14,000 –> 00:28:16,000 this is your usual method 819 00:28:16,000 –> 00:28:18,000 or I could say ah yes 820 00:28:18,000 –> 00:28:20,000 I’m very tired right now 821 00:28:20,000 –> 00:28:22,000 and I know exactly what you’re 822 00:28:22,000 –> 00:28:24,000 up to, 823 00:28:24,000 –> 00:28:26,000 because you’ve studied your past failures 824 00:28:26,000 –> 00:28:28,000 and you’ve learned from them 825 00:28:28,000 –> 00:28:30,000 and you are a growing christian 826 00:28:30,000 –> 00:28:32,000 and you’re in a better position 827 00:28:32,000 –> 00:28:34,000 to wage this warfare of 828 00:28:34,000 –> 00:28:36,000 the christian life 829 00:28:36,000 –> 00:28:38,000 Now Jesus says 830 00:28:38,000 –> 00:28:40,000 Watch and Pray 831 00:28:40,000 –> 00:28:42,000 Watch and pray 832 00:28:42,000 –> 00:28:44,000 it’s almost like you need to 833 00:28:44,000 –> 00:28:46,000 squeeze these words together 834 00:28:46,000 –> 00:28:48,000 and make them one 835 00:28:48,000 –> 00:28:50,000 it’s kind of like watch and pray 836 00:28:50,000 –> 00:28:52,000 watch and pray 837 00:28:52,000 –> 00:28:54,000 because the one without the other 838 00:28:54,000 –> 00:28:56,000 will never be effective 839 00:28:56,000 –> 00:28:58,000 think about this with me for a moment 840 00:28:58,000 –> 00:29:00,000 if you watch 841 00:29:00,000 –> 00:29:02,000 but you don’t pray 842 00:29:02,000 –> 00:29:04,000 in other words you’re a really good student 843 00:29:04,000 –> 00:29:06,000 of your own soul. You’re very good at 844 00:29:06,000 –> 00:29:08,000 self analysis and 845 00:29:08,000 –> 00:29:10,000 consideration of your past failures 846 00:29:10,000 –> 00:29:12,000 you watch your own particular movements 847 00:29:12,000 –> 00:29:14,000 and circumstances in life 848 00:29:14,000 –> 00:29:16,000 you really have a good handle on that 849 00:29:16,000 –> 00:29:18,000 you watch, but you don’t pray 850 00:29:18,000 –> 00:29:20,000 well then here’s 851 00:29:20,000 –> 00:29:22,000 your position 852 00:29:22,000 –> 00:29:22,000 853 00:29:22,000 –> 00:29:24,000 you’re going to be like person who has a 854 00:29:24,000 –> 00:29:26,000 diagnosis but no prescription 855 00:29:26,000 –> 00:29:28,000 you’ll be profoundly 856 00:29:28,000 –> 00:29:30,000 depressed, because you’ll know everything that’s 857 00:29:30,000 –> 00:29:32,000 wrong with you, but you won’t have any means 858 00:29:32,000 –> 00:29:34,000 by which to put it right 859 00:29:34,000 –> 00:29:36,000 watching without praying 860 00:29:36,000 –> 00:29:38,000 will always leave you in defeat 861 00:29:38,000 –> 00:29:40,000 you will simply see a problem 862 00:29:40,000 –> 00:29:42,000 but you will not be in a position to take 863 00:29:42,000 –> 00:29:44,000 action against it 864 00:29:44,000 –> 00:29:46,000 so obviously watching without 865 00:29:46,000 –> 00:29:48,000 praying makes no sense, equally 866 00:29:50,000 –> 00:29:52,000 praying without watching makes 867 00:29:52,000 –> 00:29:54,000 no sense either, and that 868 00:29:54,000 –> 00:29:56,000 may be the greater danger for many of us 869 00:29:56,000 –> 00:29:58,000 if you are a disciplined person 870 00:29:58,000 –> 00:30:00,000 with a regular prayer time 871 00:30:00,000 –> 00:30:02,000 and you say, really, I do pray, I pray everyday 872 00:30:02,000 –> 00:30:04,000 most days, and yes 873 00:30:04,000 –> 00:30:06,000 I certainly am praying 874 00:30:06,000 –> 00:30:08,000 and I’m asking you, are you watching? 875 00:30:09,420 –> 00:30:11,420 because if you pray without watching 876 00:30:11,420 –> 00:30:13,420 your praying is actually going to be very very shallow 877 00:30:14,800 –> 00:30:16,800 here’s what it will be like 878 00:30:16,800 –> 00:30:18,800 if you pray and you don’t watch 879 00:30:18,800 –> 00:30:20,800 you’ll be like a person who is sick 880 00:30:20,800 –> 00:30:22,800 and goes into a pharmacy 881 00:30:22,800 –> 00:30:24,800 where you have all these 882 00:30:24,959 –> 00:30:26,959 marvellous medications 883 00:30:26,959 –> 00:30:28,959 but you can’t use any of them 884 00:30:28,959 –> 00:30:30,959 because you don’t know what your own condition 885 00:30:30,959 –> 00:30:32,959 actually is 886 00:30:32,959 –> 00:30:34,959 you have no diagnosis 887 00:30:34,959 –> 00:30:36,959 so you’re surrounded by the provision 888 00:30:36,959 –> 00:30:38,959 but the provision remains 889 00:30:38,959 –> 00:30:40,959 on the shelf 890 00:30:40,959 –> 00:30:42,640 it is not actually acquired of you 891 00:30:42,640 –> 00:30:44,640 because you don’t know what to acquire 892 00:30:46,280 –> 00:30:48,280 you’re praying 893 00:30:48,280 –> 00:30:50,280 but you’re not watching 894 00:30:50,280 –> 00:30:52,280 and therefore, although you pray very regularly 895 00:30:52,280 –> 00:30:54,280 you don’t really grow significantly 896 00:30:54,280 –> 00:30:56,280 because you’re just blind to the same temptations 897 00:30:56,280 –> 00:30:58,280 that just go on getting deeper 898 00:30:58,280 –> 00:31:00,280 and deeper roots within your life 899 00:31:00,280 –> 00:31:02,280 so Jesus said 900 00:31:02,280 –> 00:31:04,280 you got to put these two things together 901 00:31:04,280 –> 00:31:06,280 watch and pray, watch and pray 902 00:31:06,280 –> 00:31:08,280 so that you will not enter into temptation 903 00:31:08,280 –> 00:31:10,280 temptations will come to you this week 904 00:31:10,280 –> 00:31:12,280 so, watch and pray 905 00:31:12,280 –> 00:31:14,280 so that it does not build the position 906 00:31:14,280 –> 00:31:16,280 that will overwhelm you 907 00:31:18,280 –> 00:31:20,280 and Jesus gives to us 908 00:31:20,280 –> 00:31:22,280 this particular reason for praying 909 00:31:22,280 –> 00:31:24,280 he says you’re to pray 910 00:31:24,280 –> 00:31:26,280 because the Spirit is willing 911 00:31:26,280 –> 00:31:28,280 but the flesh 912 00:31:28,280 –> 00:31:30,280 is weak 913 00:31:32,280 –> 00:31:34,280 these temptations will come to you 914 00:31:36,280 –> 00:31:38,280 and don’t overestimate 915 00:31:38,280 –> 00:31:40,280 your own abilities 916 00:31:40,280 –> 00:31:42,280 to cope with them 917 00:31:42,280 –> 00:31:44,280 your strength is 918 00:31:44,280 –> 00:31:46,280 in the lord 919 00:31:47,280 –> 00:31:49,280 that’s why you pray 920 00:31:50,280 –> 00:31:52,280 You know Peter was at a moment 921 00:31:52,280 –> 00:31:54,280 in his life where he really stumbled 922 00:31:54,280 –> 00:31:56,280 because of overconfidence 923 00:31:57,280 –> 00:31:59,280 he 924 00:31:59,280 –> 00:32:01,280 remember had said 925 00:32:01,280 –> 00:32:03,280 if everyone else 926 00:32:03,280 –> 00:32:05,280 denies you Jesus, I won’t 927 00:32:05,280 –> 00:32:07,280 if they all scatter 928 00:32:07,280 –> 00:32:09,280 not me 929 00:32:09,280 –> 00:32:11,280 I’m your man 930 00:32:11,280 –> 00:32:13,280 I’m ready to die with you 931 00:32:14,280 –> 00:32:16,280 and Peter has a certain swagger 932 00:32:16,280 –> 00:32:18,280 about him and he’s 933 00:32:18,280 –> 00:32:20,280 a leading disciple, isn’t he? 934 00:32:21,280 –> 00:32:23,280 and he has a certain confidence 935 00:32:23,280 –> 00:32:25,280 he’s a strong guy 936 00:32:26,280 –> 00:32:28,280 but Jesus says to him now 937 00:32:28,280 –> 00:32:29,280 the spirit is willing Peter 938 00:32:29,280 –> 00:32:31,280 but the flesh is 939 00:32:31,280 –> 00:32:33,280 weak and so you need 940 00:32:33,280 –> 00:32:35,280 to watch and pray. Peter didn’t 941 00:32:35,280 –> 00:32:37,280 hear this 942 00:32:37,280 –> 00:32:39,280 so what we find is that after Jesus 943 00:32:39,280 –> 00:32:41,280 goes back and continues to pray 944 00:32:41,280 –> 00:32:42,280 Peter does not watch 945 00:32:42,280 –> 00:32:44,280 and he does not pray and so what 946 00:32:44,280 –> 00:32:46,280 happens, he does enter into temptation 947 00:32:46,280 –> 00:32:48,280 and before the night is out, he’s calling down 948 00:32:48,280 –> 00:32:50,280 curses on himself and he’s denying 949 00:32:50,280 –> 00:32:52,280 the name of Jesus Christ 950 00:32:53,280 –> 00:32:54,280 now what we learn from 951 00:32:54,280 –> 00:32:56,280 this call to prayer therefore is that 952 00:32:56,280 –> 00:32:58,280 the one who thinks that he stands, should be 953 00:32:58,280 –> 00:33:00,280 very careful in case he should fall 954 00:33:00,280 –> 00:33:02,280 I want to make this 955 00:33:02,280 –> 00:33:04,280 application to all of us 956 00:33:04,280 –> 00:33:06,280 who have been Christians for a while 957 00:33:06,280 –> 00:33:08,280 you’re established as a 958 00:33:08,280 –> 00:33:10,280 Christian, you’ve got a few 959 00:33:10,280 –> 00:33:12,280 years following Christ under your belt 960 00:33:12,280 –> 00:33:14,280 as it were, you’ve been 961 00:33:14,280 –> 00:33:16,280 on this road for a while 962 00:33:16,280 –> 00:33:18,280 and the great danger for you 963 00:33:18,280 –> 00:33:20,280 is that you might overestimate 964 00:33:20,280 –> 00:33:22,280 the strength of your position 965 00:33:22,280 –> 00:33:24,280 and that you may forget that the flesh is 966 00:33:24,280 –> 00:33:26,280 weak and that therefore you need 967 00:33:26,280 –> 00:33:28,280 to watch and pray 968 00:33:28,280 –> 00:33:30,280 so that you do not fall into 969 00:33:30,280 –> 00:33:32,280 temptation 970 00:33:32,280 –> 00:33:34,280 One of my great heroes of the Christian life 971 00:33:34,280 –> 00:33:36,280 is a man by the name of Robert Murray 972 00:33:36,280 –> 00:33:38,280 McShann, can you guess what country 973 00:33:38,280 –> 00:33:40,280 he’s from? 974 00:33:40,280 –> 00:33:42,280 Wonderful godly pastor, died 975 00:33:42,280 –> 00:33:44,280 at the age of 29 976 00:33:44,280 –> 00:33:46,280 and in his short life 977 00:33:46,280 –> 00:33:48,280 pursued holiness 978 00:33:48,280 –> 00:33:50,280 with a vision and a passion 979 00:33:50,280 –> 00:33:52,280 that was quite extraordinary 980 00:33:52,280 –> 00:33:54,280 His memoir is one of the most inspiring 981 00:33:54,280 –> 00:33:56,280 things I have ever read 982 00:33:56,280 –> 00:33:58,280 and I try to read it again every 983 00:33:58,280 –> 00:34:00,280 few years. Here’s something that 984 00:34:00,280 –> 00:34:02,280 he says, he includes in his 985 00:34:02,280 –> 00:34:04,280 diary 986 00:34:04,280 –> 00:34:06,280 examples of his commitments 987 00:34:06,280 –> 00:34:08,280 and of his watching of his own soul 988 00:34:08,280 –> 00:34:10,280 and his confession of his particular 989 00:34:10,280 –> 00:34:12,280 temptations and this kind of thing 990 00:34:12,280 –> 00:34:14,280 and he says this 991 00:34:14,280 –> 00:34:16,280 I am tempted to 992 00:34:16,280 –> 00:34:18,280 think that I am now 993 00:34:18,280 –> 00:34:20,280 an established Christian 994 00:34:20,280 –> 00:34:22,280 that I have 995 00:34:22,280 –> 00:34:24,280 overcome this or that lust 996 00:34:24,280 –> 00:34:26,280 for so long that I have got into the 997 00:34:26,280 –> 00:34:28,280 habit of the opposite grace 998 00:34:28,280 –> 00:34:30,280 and so there is no fear 999 00:34:30,280 –> 00:34:32,280 I don’t … you know I’ve been on 1000 00:34:32,280 –> 00:34:34,280 this road and I have not fallen in this way or that 1001 00:34:34,280 –> 00:34:36,280 so, you know I don’t need to worry 1002 00:34:36,280 –> 00:34:38,280 and he says and so I 1003 00:34:38,280 –> 00:34:40,280 venture very near to temptation 1004 00:34:40,280 –> 00:34:42,280 nearer than other men 1005 00:34:42,280 –> 00:34:44,280 and he says that 1006 00:34:44,280 –> 00:34:46,280 thought that I am okay 1007 00:34:46,280 –> 00:34:48,280 he says this is a lie 1008 00:34:48,280 –> 00:34:50,280 of Satan 1009 00:34:50,280 –> 00:34:52,280 and then this 1010 00:34:52,280 –> 00:34:54,280 I might as well speak about 1011 00:34:54,280 –> 00:34:56,280 gunpowder getting by 1012 00:34:56,280 –> 00:34:58,280 habit the power of 1013 00:34:58,280 –> 00:35:00,280 resisting fire so as 1014 00:35:00,280 –> 00:35:02,280 not to catch the spark 1015 00:35:02,280 –> 00:35:04,280 he says if I 1016 00:35:04,280 –> 00:35:06,280 think that because I’ve been a Christian for a few 1017 00:35:06,280 –> 00:35:08,280 years now that I’m less vulnerable 1018 00:35:08,280 –> 00:35:10,280 then I 1019 00:35:10,280 –> 00:35:12,280 am being as foolish and believing a lie 1020 00:35:12,280 –> 00:35:14,280 of Satan that is as 1021 00:35:14,280 –> 00:35:16,280 absurd as to say that 1022 00:35:16,280 –> 00:35:18,280 by habit 1023 00:35:18,280 –> 00:35:20,280 gunpowder becomes 1024 00:35:20,280 –> 00:35:22,280 less vulnerable 1025 00:35:22,280 –> 00:35:24,280 to fire and will not catch the 1026 00:35:24,280 –> 00:35:26,280 spark 1027 00:35:26,280 –> 00:35:28,280 that’s crazy 1028 00:35:28,280 –> 00:35:30,280 it’s a lie of Satan 1029 00:35:30,280 –> 00:35:32,280 and then he says this 1030 00:35:32,280 –> 00:35:34,280 the seeds of all 1031 00:35:34,280 –> 00:35:36,280 sins are in my heart 1032 00:35:36,280 –> 00:35:38,280 and perhaps all the more 1033 00:35:38,280 –> 00:35:40,280 dangerously because 1034 00:35:40,280 –> 00:35:42,280 i do not see them 1035 00:35:42,280 –> 00:35:44,280 the seeds of all sins are in my heart 1036 00:35:44,280 –> 00:35:46,280 and perhaps 1037 00:35:46,280 –> 00:35:48,280 all the more dangerously 1038 00:35:48,280 –> 00:35:50,280 because I do not see them 1039 00:35:50,280 –> 00:35:52,280 so for 1040 00:35:52,280 –> 00:35:54,280 anyone who is sitting comfortably today 1041 00:35:54,280 –> 00:35:56,280 has been a Christian for so many years 1042 00:35:56,280 –> 00:35:58,280 and I see other people who are struggling 1043 00:35:58,280 –> 00:36:00,280 with obvious compulsions but of course 1044 00:36:00,280 –> 00:36:02,280 I am an established Christian 1045 00:36:02,280 –> 00:36:04,280 well 1046 00:36:04,280 –> 00:36:06,280 Jesus says to you watch 1047 00:36:06,280 –> 00:36:08,280 and pray 1048 00:36:08,280 –> 00:36:10,280 so that you do no 1049 00:36:10,280 –> 00:36:12,280 enter into temptation 1050 00:36:12,280 –> 00:36:14,280 don”t have the over confidence of Peter 1051 00:36:14,280 –> 00:36:16,280 because though the spirit is willing 1052 00:36:16,280 –> 00:36:20,280 the body is weak 1053 00:36:20,280 –> 00:36:22,280 pray because your flesh is weak 1054 00:36:22,280 –> 00:36:24,280 but also pray because 1055 00:36:24,280 –> 00:36:26,280 your saviour is strong 1056 00:36:26,280 –> 00:36:28,280 this is something very, very 1057 00:36:28,280 –> 00:36:30,280 wonderful and lets end by looking 1058 00:36:30,280 –> 00:36:32,280 our saviour here 1059 00:36:32,280 –> 00:36:34,280 see whats happening in the story 1060 00:36:34,280 –> 00:36:36,280 Jesus comes to these disciples and he says 1061 00:36:36,280 –> 00:36:38,280 watch and pray this is what you got to do 1062 00:36:38,280 –> 00:36:40,280 but you know what happens? 1063 00:36:40,280 –> 00:36:42,280 Peter does not watch and he does not pray 1064 00:36:42,280 –> 00:36:44,280 he does enter into temptation and 1065 00:36:44,280 –> 00:36:46,280 his collapse is very, very great 1066 00:36:46,280 –> 00:36:48,280 and isn’t that our position? 1067 00:36:48,280 –> 00:36:50,280 wait, none of us is here saying 1068 00:36:50,280 –> 00:36:52,280 we have done this and therefore 1069 00:36:52,280 –> 00:36:54,280 we are here without sin 1070 00:36:54,280 –> 00:36:56,280 we come here to church as sinners before the lord 1071 00:36:56,280 –> 00:36:58,280 recognizing our need of a saviour 1072 00:36:58,280 –> 00:37:00,280 none of us can find 1073 00:37:00,280 –> 00:37:02,280 peace and rest looking at the path of our 1074 00:37:02,280 –> 00:37:04,280 own obedience, none of us has watched 1075 00:37:04,280 –> 00:37:06,280 or prayed as we ought 1076 00:37:06,280 –> 00:37:08,280 we have entered into temptation 1077 00:37:08,280 –> 00:37:10,280 and sin mars our lives in many ways 1078 00:37:10,280 –> 00:37:12,280 as a result of it therefore 1079 00:37:12,280 –> 00:37:14,280 we need to look to christ 1080 00:37:15,280 –> 00:37:17,280 and we’re given such as wonderful glimpse 1081 00:37:17,280 –> 00:37:19,280 of christ and what he does for us here 1082 00:37:19,280 –> 00:37:21,280 what is Jesus doing for Peter? 1083 00:37:21,280 –> 00:37:23,280 well Luke records 1084 00:37:23,280 –> 00:37:25,280 it’s not in Matthew but it’s in Luke’s gospel 1085 00:37:25,280 –> 00:37:27,280 in chapter 22 1086 00:37:27,280 –> 00:37:29,280 Jesus said to Peter 1087 00:37:29,280 –> 00:37:31,280 Simon 1088 00:37:31,280 –> 00:37:33,280 that was his other name, Simon Peter 1089 00:37:33,280 –> 00:37:35,280 satan 1090 00:37:35,280 –> 00:37:37,280 has desired 1091 00:37:37,280 –> 00:37:39,280 to sift you like wheat 1092 00:37:41,280 –> 00:37:43,280 that’s why you gonna have to watch 1093 00:37:43,280 –> 00:37:45,280 and pray Peter because satan’s after you 1094 00:37:45,280 –> 00:37:47,280 he’s got an eye on you, he wants to destroy you 1095 00:37:47,280 –> 00:37:49,280 wants to tear you apart 1096 00:37:49,280 –> 00:37:51,280 he’s trying to build a position 1097 00:37:51,280 –> 00:37:53,280 but 1098 00:37:53,280 –> 00:37:57,280 I have prayed for you 1099 00:37:57,280 –> 00:37:59,280 Jesus says 1100 00:37:59,280 –> 00:38:01,280 that your faith will not fail 1101 00:38:01,280 –> 00:38:03,280 you say well didn’t Peter fail? 1102 00:38:03,280 –> 00:38:05,280 Yeah, sure, Peter failed 1103 00:38:05,280 –> 00:38:07,280 like you’ve failed many times and I’ve failed many times 1104 00:38:07,280 –> 00:38:09,280 Jesus prayed for Peter 1105 00:38:09,280 –> 00:38:11,280 was that his faith 1106 00:38:11,280 –> 00:38:13,280 would not fail 1107 00:38:13,280 –> 00:38:15,280 and his faith 1108 00:38:15,280 –> 00:38:17,280 did not fail 1109 00:38:17,280 –> 00:38:19,280 which is why he was wonderfully restored 1110 00:38:19,280 –> 00:38:21,280 and the moment of this great 1111 00:38:21,280 –> 00:38:23,280 failure 1112 00:38:23,280 –> 00:38:25,280 became a moment of deepening his love 1113 00:38:25,280 –> 00:38:27,280 for Christ 1114 00:38:27,280 –> 00:38:29,280 humbling his own arrogance 1115 00:38:29,280 –> 00:38:31,280 and self-confidence 1116 00:38:31,280 –> 00:38:33,280 actually to Satan’s 1117 00:38:33,280 –> 00:38:35,280 confounding, to move him forward 1118 00:38:35,280 –> 00:38:37,280 in usefulness 1119 00:38:37,280 –> 00:38:39,280 to his Lord 1120 00:38:39,280 –> 00:38:41,280 and his Saviour 1121 00:38:41,280 –> 00:38:43,280 isnt’t it wonderful to have a saviour 1122 00:38:43,280 –> 00:38:45,280 who intercedes for us 1123 00:38:45,280 –> 00:38:47,280 and this saviour who 1124 00:38:47,280 –> 00:38:49,280 prays for Peter, he goes to the cross 1125 00:38:49,280 –> 00:38:51,280 the next day to bear the sins 1126 00:38:51,280 –> 00:38:53,280 and failings of all of his people 1127 00:38:53,280 –> 00:38:55,280 so that no falling into temptation 1128 00:38:55,280 –> 00:38:57,280 will ever be the end of hope for you 1129 00:38:57,280 –> 00:38:59,280 this Jesus 1130 00:38:59,280 –> 00:39:01,280 rose from the dead and today he is 1131 00:39:01,280 –> 00:39:03,280 at the right hand of the father 1132 00:39:03,280 –> 00:39:05,280 and he extends grace to all 1133 00:39:05,280 –> 00:39:07,280 who will come to him 1134 00:39:07,280 –> 00:39:09,280 and he intercedes on our behalf 1135 00:39:09,280 –> 00:39:11,280 when you 1136 00:39:11,280 –> 00:39:13,280 are engaged in the battle, you are 1137 00:39:13,280 –> 00:39:15,280 not alone 1138 00:39:15,280 –> 00:39:17,280 the Son of God is at the right hand of the 1139 00:39:17,280 –> 00:39:19,280 father, he is there for you 1140 00:39:19,280 –> 00:39:21,280 He is with you by his Holy Spirit 1141 00:39:21,280 –> 00:39:23,280 you are never alone in the fight 1142 00:39:23,280 –> 00:39:25,280 and the joy and privilege 1143 00:39:25,280 –> 00:39:27,280 of prayer is that 1144 00:39:27,280 –> 00:39:29,280 as you watch and see the battle 1145 00:39:29,280 –> 00:39:31,280 you are able to come to the 1146 00:39:31,280 –> 00:39:33,280 Saviour and you are able 1147 00:39:33,280 –> 00:39:35,280 to ask of his help 1148 00:39:35,280 –> 00:39:37,280 you are able to know that he hears you 1149 00:39:37,280 –> 00:39:39,280 and that he stands with you, and his spirit 1150 00:39:39,280 –> 00:39:41,280 is given to you 1151 00:39:41,280 –> 00:39:43,280 and that he knows what it is to be 1152 00:39:43,280 –> 00:39:45,280 tempted 1153 00:39:46,280 –> 00:39:48,280 and that in his mercy and in his grace 1154 00:39:48,280 –> 00:39:50,280 he will never turn you away 1155 00:39:50,280 –> 00:39:52,280 but will enable you to 1156 00:39:52,280 –> 00:39:54,280 stand as you look to him 1157 00:39:56,280 –> 00:39:58,280 Do you know the last thing 1158 00:39:58,280 –> 00:40:00,280 I want to say is just this 1159 00:40:01,280 –> 00:40:03,280 At the end of the New Testament 1160 00:40:03,280 –> 00:40:05,280 near the end, there are 1161 00:40:05,280 –> 00:40:07,280 a couple of verses, quite well 1162 00:40:07,280 –> 00:40:09,280 known, that talk about 1163 00:40:09,280 –> 00:40:11,280 how God 1164 00:40:11,280 –> 00:40:13,280 uses trials that come 1165 00:40:13,280 –> 00:40:15,280 to us to prove 1166 00:40:15,280 –> 00:40:18,280 that faith is genuine 1167 00:40:18,280 –> 00:40:20,280 and that what will 1168 00:40:20,280 –> 00:40:22,280 happen in the end therefore is 1169 00:40:22,280 –> 00:40:24,280 that praise, glory, 1170 00:40:24,280 –> 00:40:26,280 and honor will bounce 1171 00:40:26,280 –> 00:40:28,280 back when Jesus Christ is 1172 00:40:28,280 –> 00:40:30,280 revealed 1173 00:40:30,280 –> 00:40:32,280 Have I said enough for you 1174 00:40:32,280 –> 00:40:34,280 to recognize who wrote these verses 1175 00:40:34,280 –> 00:40:36,280 that I am referring too? 1176 00:40:36,280 –> 00:40:38,280 Who wrote these verses? 1177 00:40:38,280 –> 00:40:40,280 Peter! Peter 1178 00:40:40,280 –> 00:40:42,280 That is significant 1179 00:40:42,280 –> 00:40:44,280 And when he wrote these verses 1180 00:40:44,280 –> 00:40:46,280 I’m going to read them in full to you just now 1181 00:40:46,280 –> 00:40:48,280 The word that he 1182 00:40:48,280 –> 00:40:50,280 used for trials 1183 00:40:50,280 –> 00:40:52,280 is exactly 1184 00:40:52,280 –> 00:40:54,280 the same word as 1185 00:40:54,280 –> 00:40:56,280 Jesus used in the garden 1186 00:40:56,280 –> 00:40:58,280 of Gethsemane when Jesus said 1187 00:40:58,280 –> 00:41:00,280 to him, Watch and pray 1188 00:41:00,280 –> 00:41:02,280 so that you will not 1189 00:41:02,280 –> 00:41:04,280 enter into temptation 1190 00:41:04,280 –> 00:41:06,280 trials, temptation 1191 00:41:06,280 –> 00:41:08,280 The same word is used, and so it can be translated that way 1192 00:41:08,280 –> 00:41:10,280 So now let me read you the verse 1193 00:41:10,280 –> 00:41:12,280 it is 1 Peter chapter 1, 6 and 7 1194 00:41:12,280 –> 00:41:14,280 Now 1195 00:41:14,280 –> 00:41:16,280 for a little while 1196 00:41:16,280 –> 00:41:18,280 you may have 1197 00:41:18,280 –> 00:41:20,280 to suffer in all 1198 00:41:20,280 –> 00:41:22,280 kinds of temptations 1199 00:41:22,280 –> 00:41:24,280 these 1200 00:41:24,280 –> 00:41:26,280 have come so that your 1201 00:41:26,280 –> 00:41:28,280 faith of greater 1202 00:41:28,280 –> 00:41:30,280 worth than gold 1203 00:41:30,280 –> 00:41:32,280 will be proved genuine 1204 00:41:32,280 –> 00:41:34,280 just as Peter’s faith was proved genuine 1205 00:41:34,280 –> 00:41:36,280 and Jesus prayed that it would be 1206 00:41:36,280 –> 00:41:38,280 and may result in praise 1207 00:41:38,280 –> 00:41:40,280 and glory and honor when 1208 00:41:40,280 –> 00:41:42,280 when Jesus Christ is revealed 1209 00:41:42,280 –> 00:41:44,280 what Peter writes here 1210 00:41:44,280 –> 00:41:46,280 comes right out of his experience 1211 00:41:46,280 –> 00:41:48,280 in the garden of Gethsemane and the failure 1212 00:41:48,280 –> 00:41:50,280 that followed and the restoration that came after 1213 00:41:50,280 –> 00:41:52,280 that 1214 00:41:52,280 –> 00:41:54,280 see here’s the marvelous thing 1215 00:41:54,280 –> 00:41:56,280 temptation is a double-edged 1216 00:41:56,280 –> 00:41:58,280 sword, it’s all that 1217 00:41:58,280 –> 00:42:00,280 Satan can do but it’s a 1218 00:42:00,280 –> 00:42:02,280 dangerous sword for him to wield 1219 00:42:02,280 –> 00:42:04,280 because while it was the 1220 00:42:04,280 –> 00:42:06,280 undoing of Judas 1221 00:42:06,280 –> 00:42:08,280 it was the making of Peter 1222 00:42:08,280 –> 00:42:10,280 even his failure 1223 00:42:10,280 –> 00:42:12,280 led to repentance and 1224 00:42:12,280 –> 00:42:14,280 proved that his faith was genuine 1225 00:42:14,280 –> 00:42:16,280 it made him more humble 1226 00:42:16,280 –> 00:42:18,280 it got rid of the swagger 1227 00:42:18,280 –> 00:42:20,280 and the arrogance 1228 00:42:20,280 –> 00:42:22,280 it made him more realistic about his weakness 1229 00:42:22,280 –> 00:42:24,280 more grateful to his 1230 00:42:24,280 –> 00:42:26,280 Savior, more sensitive 1231 00:42:26,280 –> 00:42:28,280 to other people and kinder 1232 00:42:28,280 –> 00:42:30,280 and gentler 1233 00:42:30,280 –> 00:42:32,280 one of the 1234 00:42:32,280 –> 00:42:34,280 fathers of the church said this 1235 00:42:34,280 –> 00:42:36,280 Christ 1236 00:42:36,280 –> 00:42:38,280 became like 1237 00:42:38,280 –> 00:42:40,280 us in 1238 00:42:40,280 –> 00:42:42,280 order that he may be tempted 1239 00:42:42,280 –> 00:42:44,280 we 1240 00:42:44,280 –> 00:42:46,280 are tempted 1241 00:42:46,280 –> 00:42:48,280 in order that we may become 1242 00:42:48,280 –> 00:42:50,280 like Christ 1243 00:42:52,280 –> 00:42:54,280 so look to the Savior today 1244 00:42:54,280 –> 00:42:56,280 before temptation 1245 00:42:56,280 –> 00:42:58,280 in temptation 1246 00:42:58,280 –> 00:43:00,280 and after temptation 1247 00:43:00,280 –> 00:43:02,280 He is 1248 00:43:02,280 –> 00:43:04,280 able to help you when you are tempted 1249 00:43:04,280 –> 00:43:06,280 to stand up under it 1250 00:43:06,280 –> 00:43:08,280 He is able to restore you 1251 00:43:08,280 –> 00:43:10,280 when you have fallen and when you have failed 1252 00:43:10,280 –> 00:43:12,280 and he is 1253 00:43:12,280 –> 00:43:14,280 able to keep you from falling and 1254 00:43:14,280 –> 00:43:16,280 eventually to present you 1255 00:43:16,280 –> 00:43:18,280 without fault and with great 1256 00:43:18,280 –> 00:43:20,280 joy because you are cleansed in 1257 00:43:20,280 –> 00:43:22,280 the blood of Jesus 1258 00:43:22,280 –> 00:43:24,280 at the right hand of the Father 1259 00:43:24,280 –> 00:43:26,280 and therefore to Him 1260 00:43:26,280 –> 00:43:28,280 be all the glory and all 1261 00:43:28,280 –> 00:43:30,280 the honor both now 1262 00:43:30,280 –> 00:43:32,280 and forever more 1263 00:43:32,280 –> 00:43:34,280 and all the people together said 1264 00:43:34,280 –> 00:43:36,280 Amen 1265 00:43:36,280 –> 00:43:38,280 We are so grateful 1266 00:43:38,280 –> 00:43:40,280 Father that in this battle in which 1267 00:43:40,280 –> 00:43:42,280 you call us to watch and pray 1268 00:43:42,280 –> 00:43:44,280 You have given 1269 00:43:44,280 –> 00:43:46,280 us a Savior 1270 00:43:46,280 –> 00:43:48,280 and that we are not alone 1271 00:43:48,280 –> 00:43:50,280 and that the 1272 00:43:50,280 –> 00:43:52,280 Savior we have is one who 1273 00:43:52,280 –> 00:43:54,280 has been tempted and is gentle 1274 00:43:54,280 –> 00:43:56,280 and merciful 1275 00:43:56,280 –> 00:43:58,280 and to 1276 00:43:58,280 –> 00:44:00,280 Him we come 1277 00:44:00,280 –> 00:44:02,280 Be to 1278 00:44:02,280 –> 00:44:04,280 us all that we need 1279 00:44:04,280 –> 00:44:06,280 in all that we face 1280 00:44:06,280 –> 00:44:08,280 in all of our lives 1281 00:44:08,280 –> 00:44:10,280 dear Lord 1282 00:44:10,280 –> 00:44:12,280 for it is in your name that we pray 1283 00:44:12,280 –> 00:44:14,280 Amen 1284 00:44:16,280 –> 00:44:18,280 You’ve been li

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Colin Smith

Trustee / Founder and Teaching Pastor

Colin Smith is the Senior Pastor of The Orchard Evangelical Free Church in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. He has authored a number of books, including Heaven, How I Got Here and Heaven, So Near – So Far. Colin is the Founder and Teaching Pastor for Open the Bible. Follow him on X formerly Twitter.

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Sin is no longer your master…but sin is still your enemy. Christians who have a shallow view of sin often struggle with unrealistic expectations of themselves, other believers and the church. This often leads to discouragement and disillusionment. In this series, you’ll discover the biblical expectations that are essential to endurance in the Christian life.

Colin Smith

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