Posted on 02/10/2024 3:19:57 PM PST by Jan_Sobieski
Matthew 26:38 Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch [and pray] with me. 39 And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. 40 And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? 41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. 42 He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.43 And he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy. 44 And he left them, and went away again, and prayed* the third time, saying the same words. 45 Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.
The entire world is rushing headlong into existential judgment from God not seen since the world was created. Jesus Christ foretold of coming catastrophic wars where all the militaries of the nations would be dragged to Israel for destruction. War is always followed by death and famine. Famine by pestilences and death. He said that those who endure unto the end shall be saved. He also said watch and pray for strength to escape!
All of us will be tested beyond what we can handle alone. We need God’s supernatural strength beyond ourselves. Our Lord Jesus Christ gave us the pattern for success when he was preparing for His greatest trial. He watched and prayed for strength and when His trial came He was faithful to the end. By emulating this pattern we can obtain strength from God to make it through our trials.
Jesus Christ even prayed for escape if it was God’s will. Yet God had a different plan for His son. The Father had planned for His son to drink the full cup of our judgments that we might have a way of escape!
Psalm 22:19 But be not thou far from me, O LORD: O my strength, haste thee to help me.
The first Adam in the Garden of Eden reached out taking the fruit in rebellion against God. In doing so he said, “not your will be done father, but my will be done.” The second Adam, Jesus Christ, in the Garden of Gethsemane watched and prayed faithfully. In doing so He said, “not my will be done, but your will be done father!” The first Adam failed the test plunging man into sin. The second Adam passed the test and brought light and life into our darkness.
John 18:10 Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear*. The servant's name was Malchus. 11 Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?
Peter made a stand in his own fleshly strength and succeeded only in cutting a man’s ear off. When Jesus was arrested, all the disciples ran off in terror including Peter. Later when a little girl recognized Peter as a disciple of Jesus, Peter denied Christ. What is the lesson for us? Peter trusted in himself and his ability. He didn’t think he needed to watch and pray for strength. When the time of testing came he failed miserably. God gave us this example so we can pass the test!
Matthew 26:41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
Jesus had even told Peter in advance what was coming in Matthew 16. What was Peter’s response? In his flesh he took God aside and rebuked Him! Can you imagine rebuking God? Have you ever rebuked God? Satan was speaking through Peter in His ignorance, lack of faith, and self strength. If we have any strength at all, where does it come from? Who gives us our strength? It is God who gives us our strength. Without Him we can do nothing (John 15:5). We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us (Phil 4:13). When we are weak, His power is strong in us (2 Cor 12:9)!
We are like people rowing against the current in a generation headed over the falls of destruction. It takes strength to row against the current; strength that only God can give. Our own strength is insufficient to keep us from destruction.
The Book of Hebrews was written to call Jewish Christians to watch and pray for strength to stay with Jesus, even though the entire Roman world was against the faith! Those who kept the faith had strength to finish the race. Those who shrunk back perished with the rest of Jerusalem.
Psalm 59:17 Unto thee, O my strength, will I sing: for God is my defense, and the God of my mercy.
Parents with school aged children in public schools need to watch and pray for strength to help their children escape. These Marxist atheist institutions are not concerned about teaching our children math, science, reading, and writing. Rather, they are socially engineering our children to be leftist atheist activists. They are inculcating sodomy and transgenderism to our vulnerable children. Watching and praying parents cannot tacitly approve these abominations by going along. They are pulling their children out and homeschooling.
Homeschooling is difficult. It requires patience, dedication, willingness to cut your income in half, drive junky cars, have smaller vacations, shop at garage sales for clothing, etc. Why would parents give some much up? At the end of their life, nothing will persist except the souls God has given them. How much are your precious little souls worth?
If the Lord told you to pack up and leave your City, State, or Country because of evil, would you? How would you know the Lord told you? Would you know like the Jews in Jerusalem in AD 69, or the Anabaptists over the last 500 years? You would only know if you watched and prayed. If you were too focused on career, retirement, social status, hobbies, etc. you would not know.
I believe U.S. States that have passed advanced Sodomy and abortion laws against children are going to be judged by God first. Christians should watch and pray for escape. Our Globalist Military is headed for catastrophe because of its persecution of Christians and open support and elevation of Sodomy and gender dysphoria. Christians should watch and pray for escape.
Psalm 59:9 Because of his strength will I wait upon thee: for God is my defence.
The Church of Laodicea in Revelation 3 was a Church whose congregants had become rich and increased in goods. Like many in America today, they viewed their financial status as the ultimate sign of God’s favor. If you look around America, our megachurches and cathedrals more resemble corporate headquarters than upper rooms and home fellowships.
Laodicea was in need of nothing! They didn’t even need Jesus!? How do we know? Jesus was outside of the Church knocking to get in! Why was Jesus outside knocking? He loved them and did not want them to die in their self-deception and sin! When we do not watch and pray and trust in our own strength we are self deceived!
James 5:17 Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. 18And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.
The Prophet Elijah had to pray 7 times to the Lord for rain to return to Israel. Jesus Christ our Lord had to pray 3 times to our heavenly Father for His trial. How many times should we pray for the trials that we have? The Bible tells us to Pray without ceasing! (1 Thess 5:17)
Everything in this world today militates against Christians watching and praying. Our impossibly busy schedules, work obligations, unlimited Social Media phone apps, emails, text messages, phone calls, and even the never-ending news cycle. Not to mention the endless streaming of movies and videos. It takes great discipline today to carve out time and pray, but it is absolutely essential if we are going to endure to the end.
Many people failed the COVID-19 test that came to the world. Some were herded into coercion by fear, while others knew they should not go along, but the threat of losing jobs, livelihood, savings, vacations, etc. was overwhelming, and they acquiesced. To some this has been a fatal decision. By watching and praying for God’s strength in our future trials we can have God’s strength to stand.
Jeremiah 16:19 O LORD, my strength, and my fortress, and my refuge in the day of affliction
The COVID-19 crises is a foreshadow the coming Mark of the Beast. Would the threat of losing your job, livelihood, savings, vacations, etc. cause you to get the Mark of the Beast and purchase for yourself eternal damnation? Of all sins, this is the only sin mentioned in the Bible that results in immediate eternal damnation. Don’t fail that test. Watch and pray now that you have strength to escape!
Matthew 26:69 Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee. 70 But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest. […] 75 And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.
Where is part 1?
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