| My Journal |
| Links |
| February 13, 2002, Wednesday Mark Chapter 14 Jesus brings his disciples to Gethsemane to pray, and taking Peter, James, and John, Jesus begins to be "sore amazed, and to be very heavy" (Mk 14:33). At this time, when Jesus is heavy over the foreboding betrayal, his disciples sleep, not aware of the momentous event that will soon occur. When Jesus returns and finds them sleeping, he says, "Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak" (Mk 14:38). The Christian's problem is simply stated here. The spirit and the flesh are at war (Ro 7:23) and Christ warns us to watch and pray lest we fall. Therefore there is only way to avoid the temptation of the flesh. "This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh" (Gal 5:16). "For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would" (Gal 5:17). "And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts" (Gal 5:24). We can therefore be saved from the temptation of the flesh because of the victory God owned on the cross. In order to avoid falling into the temptation of the flesh, we must watch, pray, and walk in the Spirit. We must have a keen eye for the crafty devices of Satan, forsake the affections and lusts of the flesh, maintain a constant and open channel of communication with God, and be fully and faithfully possessed by the Holy Ghost and so shall we have victory in the LORD. "All I once held dear, built my life upon, all this world reveres and wars to own. All I once thought gain, I have counted loss, spent and worthless now, compared to this. Knowing you Jesus, knowing You, there is no greater thing. You're my all, You're the best, You're my joy, my righteousness, and I love you LORD. Now my heart's desire is to know You more, to be found in You, to possess by faith what I could not earn, all surpassing gift of righteousness." "Knowing You, Jesus" - Various Artists *end of excerpt* |