Luke 22:45-46

Ever been sorrowfully depressed over circumstances differing greatly from what was hoped or perhaps even prayed for? If so, we are in good company. These disciples, exhausted from sorrow, were experiencing such despair. Much more than just mere flippant followers of Jesus, these guys normally were adherents to His lead. Indeed, the very definition of the word translated “disciple” “denotes an adherent who accepts the instruction given to him and makes it his rule of conduct. Jesus’ teaching was the basis for their conduct.” Hebrew-Greek Key Word Study Bible New Testament Lexical Aids. Oftentimes, we too can become so discouraged over the outcome of a situation that we choose to retreat in sleep – burying our heads, so to speak, under the comfort of the comforter when in reality the Comforter is to be found on our knees in prayer! Jesus cries out to us as well – "Why are you sleeping?"

I love the way the gospel of Matthew states this same scene:

40 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?" he asked Peter. 41 "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak." Matt 26:40-41 (NIV)

“He speaks as one amazed to see them so stupid. How small a thing it was that he expected from them – only to keep watch with him. If he had bid them do some great thing, or die with him, they thought they could have done it; and yet they could not do it, when he desired them to keep watch with him...Yet, He considered their frame, and did not chide them, for he remembered that they were but flesh.” Matthew Henry

Believer, this is our hour! Jesus warns us to watch and pray emphasizing the weakness of our flesh even though our spirit is staunch. Paul warns us in the following way regarding our weakness in temptation:

12 So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! 1 Cor 10:12 (NIV)

“Satan does not often attack a Christian who is living near to God. It is when the Christian departs from his God, becomes spiritually starved, and endeavours to feed on vanities, that the devil discovers his vantage hour.” C. H. Spurgeon

Repeatedly in Scripture we are commanded to watch and pray – this is for our benefit – to keep us from falling. Just like the parable of the ten virgins – five being wise and five being foolish – five were prepared and five were not when the Bridegroom arrived. Jesus ends the parable with the following verse as a warning to us as well:

13 "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour. Matt 25:13 (NIV)

Again, Jesus tells us:

42 "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him. Matt 24:42-44 (NIV)

Paul gives us the same warning in Ephesians:

18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. Eph 6:18 (NIV)

We are to always be praying and alert not only when the enemy attacks but on all occasions - through the power and the sphere of the Holy Spirit. Being thorough and intense, alert and persistent in our intercession shows us to be reliable soldiers in our Lord’s army.

“Labor to get a deep sense of the majesty of God, and of his mercy, upon thy mind, that thy prayers may be fervent and earnest; and God will bless thee.”

Let our trials lead us to earnest prayer – praying from the heart in our own words – as often as we call upon the Lord, He will hear us and He will help us.

12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. Jer 29:12-13 (NIV)