Be Vigilant! The spirit is indeed willing, but the flesh is weak.

[Mr. M]

1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil,

as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour:

Be Vigilant G1127 - grēgoreō - Strong's Greek Lexicon (kjv)

To be a watchman, [from G1453=arise, raised up]

Revelation 11:1 Then I was given a reed like a measuring rod. And the angel stood, saying,

Arise and measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there.

 

On the evening of His betrayal, the Lord taught His Disciples a most passionate and vital lesson:

To remain vigilant, to be watchmen who prepare for their Lord’s return by abiding in His Precepts.

Dare we tread in Gethsemane, in the sandals of James, John and Peter?

Mark 14:

33 And He took Peter, James, and John with Him, and He began to be troubled and deeply distressed.

34 Then He said to them, My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch.

 

While no one could bear what the Lord took on Himself that night, He invites

His friends to enter into His supplications. To Watch, and Pray with Him,

and for each other. We can feel the deep human need at distressing moments

of life, when we immediately call on the Name of the Lord!

When He returned from praying, the Lord spoke again to His Friends,

and to our hearts.

37 Then He came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter,

Simon, are you sleeping? Could you not watch one hour?

38 Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation.

The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

 

When the Lord returns, His Reward will be with Him,

and this is portrayed in profoundly personal ways.

Luke 12:37 Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes,

He will find watching. Assuredly, I say to you that He will gird himself

and have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them.

 

Paul warns of spirits arising, like savage wolves, that must be overcome by

“endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace”. Ephesians 4:3

Acts 20:

28 Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit

has made you over seers, to shepherd the church of God which He has purchased with His own blood.

29 For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.

30 Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things,

to draw away the disciples after themselves.

31 Therefore watch and remember, that for three years I did not cease to warn

everyone night and day with tears.

Closing with this word of exhortation

1 Corinthians 16:

13 Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.

14 Let all you do, be done with love.

Edited May 29, 2023 by Mr. M

[farouk]

Great post! if we keep looking up (Hebrews 12.2) it helps us to be vigilant, right?

[missmuffet]

What does it mean that the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak?

https://www.gotquestions.org

ANSWER

Just before His arrest, Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane, and He said to His disciples, “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41). The command came after Jesus had been praying to the Father and had found the disciples sleeping instead of praying (verses 38–40). He had admonished them to stay awake and pray with Him, but “their eyes were heavy” (verse 43), and they kept falling asleep. They slept right up until the time the armed mob came to take Jesus away (verses 45–47).

Because “the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak,” the disciples were caught unawares in Gethsemane. The word for “spirit” in this passage is the Greek word pneuma, which in this context refers to the soul of man or the mind. The word for “flesh” refers to the human body and nature, with its moral and physical frailties. When Jesus first found the disciples sleeping, He said to Peter, “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” (Matthew 26:40), and then afterward told them all to watch and pray in order to avoid temptation.

The disciples’ spirits were willing to do what was right. In fact, just a few minute earlier, all of them had pledged their lives to Jesus: “Peter declared, ‘Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.’ And all the other disciples said the same” (Matthew 26:35). But, as it turned out, they couldn’t even pray with Jesus for any length of time. Their flesh was weak. They fell asleep because of their physical human weakness. They were tired. By affirming that “the spirit is willing,” Jesus was saying that He knew the disciples wanted to stay awake and pray, but the weakness of the flesh had overpowered the spiritual desire to pray and watch. Jesus was not scolding them but exhorting them to beware of the weakness of the flesh. The Lord Himself was fighting the same struggle against the flesh, but He had overcome it (verse 39).

The story of the disciples in Gethsemane rings true for all of us. We can so easily be distracted from prayer, worship, or a kind act by hunger, exhaustion, sexual desire, feeling too cold or too hot, thirst, pain, and even a persistent itch. The flesh shouts loudly when it wants something, and the ruckus it makes can easily drown out the desires of the spirit. Even when the spirit is willing to do whatever God asks, the flesh remains weak. The answer is just as Jesus said: watch and pray. What does it mean to watch and pray? How can that help us succeed against the weaknesses of the flesh?

Prayer is straightforward. We know that we can ask God for whatever we need. Jesus made a special point that whatever we ask “in His name” He will do (John 14:13). The phrase in His name means “according to His will.” Is having the strength to obey, to worship, to do what is right and true according to God’s will? Of course! Jesus will answer the prayer for spiritual strength to overcome the flesh. When we feel the weakness of the flesh about to overpower us, we can always pray.

Watchfulness is the other weapon we have against the weakness of the flesh. The apostle Paul said, “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it” (1 Corinthians 10:13). We should watch for the “way out.” Spiritual watchfulness sees the temptation coming and prompts prayer. The fact that the flesh is a natural ally to temptation makes spiritual alertness all the more important. “The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty” (Proverbs 22:3).

The spirit of a believer is willing to follow God, but the flesh is weak. The demands, desires, and fears of human nature can pull us way off track. Satan has set up the world to appeal to the weaknesses of the flesh: lust, greed, gluttony, and other sins are directly related to the demands of the body. Is it any wonder that almost every advertisement you see and hear speaks to the fulfillment of the lust of the flesh? Another weakness of the flesh is the fear that we will not be taken care of. But Jesus spoke to this fear too: “I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” (Matthew 6:25–26).

The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. All believers know the struggle. But when we watch and pray—when we remain spiritually alert and appeal to God for help—we can find strength in the time of need (see Psalm 46:1 and Hebrews 4:16). And when we fail, “we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world” (1 John 2:1–2).

Edited November 18, 2022 by missmuffet

[Mr. M]

The flesh is the habitation of the sinful nature, which must be overcome by abiding in Christ.

Romans 7:

¹⁸ For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwells no good thing:

for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.

¹⁹ For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.

²⁰ Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that does it, but sin that dwells in me.

²¹ I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.

²² For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:

²³ But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind,

and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

²⁴ O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

²⁵ I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God;

but with the flesh the law of sin.

[Mr. M]

This is a particularly useful opportunity to hear from the Lord

Revelation 3:

1 And to the angel of the church in Sardis write, These things say the One who has the seven

Spirits of God and the seven stars: I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive,

but you are dead.

2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found

your works perfect before God.

3 Therefore remember how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch,

I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you.

[JasperWalls11]

On 11/18/2022 at 9:39 AM, Mr. M said:

1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil,

as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour:

Be Vigilant G1127 - grēgoreō - Strong's Greek Lexicon (kjv)

To be a watchman, [from G1453=arise, raised up]

Revelation 11:1 Then I was given a reed like a measuring rod. And the angel stood, saying,

Arise and measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there.

 

On the evening of His betrayal, the Lord taught His Disciples a most passionate and vital lesson:

To remain vigilant, to be watchmen who prepare for their Lord’s return by abiding in His Precepts.

Dare we tread in Gethsemane, in the sandals of James, John and Peter?

Mark 14:

33 And He took Peter, James, and John with Him, and He began to be troubled and deeply distressed.

34 Then He said to them, My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch.

 

While no one could bear what the Lord took on Himself that night, He invites

His friends to enter into His supplications. To Watch, and Pray with Him,

and for each other. We can feel the deep human need at distressing moments

of life, when we immediately call on the Name of the Lord!

When He returned from praying, the Lord spoke again to His Friends,

and to our hearts.

37 Then He came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter,

Simon, are you sleeping? Could you not watch one hour?

38 Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation.

The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

 

When the Lord returns, His Reward will be with Him,

and this is portrayed in profoundly personal ways.

Luke 12:37 Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes,

He will find watching. Assuredly, I say to you that He will gird himself

and have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them.

 

Paul warns of spirits arising, like savage wolves, that must be overcome by

“endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace”. Ephesians 4:3

Acts 20:

28 Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit

has made you over seers, to shepherd the church of God which He has purchased with His own blood.

29 For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.

30 Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things,

to draw away the disciples after themselves.

31 Therefore watch and remember, that for three years I did not cease to warn

everyone night and day with tears.

Closing with this word of exhortation

1 Corinthians 16:

13 Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.

14 Let all you do, be done with love.

The reminders to watch and be vigilant mean that we have to live intentionally as Christians.  We have to be intentional about prayer, Bible study, the fruit of the Spirit.  We have to live with daily consciousness that we have a real enemy that is looking for any "foot in the door," to cause us to slip and tarnish our witness.  We have to be careful not allow ourselves to be distracted by worldly concerns to the point that they take our eyes off of Jesus.

[kwikphilly]

Blessings Brother

32 minutes ago, Mr. M said:

This is a particularly useful opportunity to hear from the Lord

Revelation 3:

1 And to the angel of the church in Sardis write, These things say the One who has the seven

Spirits of God and the seven stars: I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive,

but you are dead.

2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found

your works perfect before God.

3 Therefore remember how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch,

I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you.

May I ask you a question? I've heard many say the 7 Spirits are the 7 Attributes,or Gifts of Holy Spirit - others say the 7 Angels who, I believe it's Chapter 16 or 17,that stand before the Throne of God- the 7 Angels of the 7 Churches....the Angels that Blow the 7Trumpets....

The 7 burning lamps,the 7 Spirits,the Spirit of Wisdom,Spirit of our Lord,Spirit of the Fear of the Lord & so on

I say they are 7 Spirits,7 Angels,who do you say they are?

Thanks in advance❤️

In His Love,Kwik

[Mr. M]

17 minutes ago, kwikphilly said:

Blessings Brother

May I ask you a question? I've heard many say the 7 Spirits are the 7 Attributes,or Gifts of Holy Spirit - others say the 7 Angels who, I believe it's Chapter 16 or 17,that stand before the Throne of God- the 7 Angels of the 7 Churches....the Angels that Blow the 7Trumpets....

The 7 burning lamps,the 7 Spirits,the Spirit of Wisdom,Spirit of our Lord,Spirit of the Fear of the Lord & so on

I say they are 7 Spirits,7 Angels,who do you say they are?

Thanks in advance❤️

In His Love,Kwik

I honestly cannot say.

I have a very large file: #131, where I keep these things:

Psalm 131:1 Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty:

neither do I exercise myself in great matters,

or in things too high for me.

This is why I prefer, "Don't know, not sure" over a "humble opinion".   

May your Memorial Day find you reminding Him to remember!

I’ve posted watchmen on your walls, Jerusalem.
    Day and night they keep at it, praying, calling out,
    reminding God to remember.
They are to give him no peace until he does what he said,
    until he makes Jerusalem famous as the City of Praise.  Isaiah 62:6,7. The Message

 

[farouk]

1 hour ago, JasperWalls11 said:

The reminders to watch and be vigilant mean that we have to live intentionally as Christians.  We have to be intentional about prayer, Bible study, the fruit of the Spirit.  We have to live with daily consciousness that we have a real enemy that is looking for any "foot in the door," to cause us to slip and tarnish our witness.  We have to be careful not allow ourselves to be distracted by worldly concerns to the point that they take our eyes off of Jesus.

@JasperWalls11 The spiritual resources of the 'whole armour of God' in Ephesians 6 are also very relevant in the spiritual conflict.