Matthew 26:41
Watch and pray, that you enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 3986
Temptation: test (positive), temptation {enticement to sin}(negative), affliction {adversity, trouble sent by God} (both pos. and neg.), trial {rebellion against God} (negative).
From the Greek word 'peirasmos' (pronounced pi-ras-mos') is a word with double meanings. Depending on context (passage where it's found), can sometimes be both negative and positive at the same time.
WATCH & PRAY
Watch: be careful, pay attention to.
In this verse, Matthew 26:41, temptation means 'enticement to sin'. Strong's "of a condition of things, or a mental state, by which we are enticed to sin, or to a lapse from faith and holiness".
We need to be determined not to allow ourselves to be brought to a place in our thoughts where we could find our words reminiscing of the 'good old days' instead of proclaiming the deliverance from said days, for then our words could cause not only ourselves, but those listening to us to fall back into the sinfulness of that from which we have been saved and delivered out of.
And just how do we do that? Self-discipline is doing and saying the right thing all day long day after day. When we bring our desires under control according to the Word of God that's mastery. When mastery is done in the love of God, that's faithfulness.
Though Daniel was a young man when he was taken captive, he refused to be trained according to the king's way of doing things, but "purposed in his heart" to be faithful to the Lord. He and his friends that were with him remained faithful to God throughout their captivity, even if it meant certain death.
Reading Daniel 3-6, we see that Daniel served under several kings. Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar's son (Daniel 5:2), and Darius the Mede who's thoughtless decree made it illegal to pray (ask a petition of) to any God or man other than himself. The punishment was to be thrown into the lions' den.
Daniel 6:10
"Now when Daniel learned that the document had been signed, he went into his house, where the windows of his upper room opened toward Jerusalem, and three times a day he got down on his knees, prayed, and gave thanks to his God, just as he had done before."
'When Daniel learned': he watched. 'Three times a day he got down on his knees, prayed, and gave thanks to his God, just as he had done before.': he prayed.
Are we, the born again believers, watching and praying with the same faithfulness in which God's faithful servants have done before us? If not, we need to fall down on our knees before God and repent of our faithlessness. And then we need to purpose in our hearts to remain faithful to God.
Are we aware of the changing times around us? or are we behaving like ostriches? Are we fearful or watchful? The fearful will run and hide, seeking safety, but not finding it. The watchful will stand on the Word and kneel to fight; thereby finding that which was promised: salvation and deliverance.
Pay attention, believers. We are in those days now where we see praying in public is being come against and disallowed. Discerning the times, having the wisdom of God's Word to know not only what is right and what is wrong, but speaking against the wrong is illegal.
We need to read His Word every single day, spending time with him in intimate communication. We need to pray to God on a regular basis every single day. Yes, we can pray throughout our days, but we must also set aside certain times of our day to meet with Him in special prayer.
If we can set aside times of our day to do other things, then we can set aside times of our day to pray. And if you think this message is directed at only you, remember: the message from God comes to the messenger first.
