WATCH AND WAIT
MATT 26:36-50
LESSON FOCUS: CHRIST’S FOLLOWERS SHOULD BE WATCHFUL AND ALERT.
1: THE DANGERS OF COMPLACENCY
A) PAY ATTENTION
B) WATCH WHAT YOU ARE DOING
C) BE CAREFUL
POINT: THESE REMARKS ARE NOT GENERALLY USED ON OUR JOBS, OR IN OUR ACTIVITES OR EXCURSIONS WE PARTAKE IN, IN OUR LIVES. THESE ARE THINGS WE TEND TO HEAR AT HOME, AS CHILDREN OUR PARENTS PROBABLY SAID THESE THINGS TO US A LOT. COMPLACENCY IN THE HOME CAN BE DISASTER, NOT PAYING ATTENTION TO OUR CHILDREN COULD AFFECT THEIR HEALTH. NOT BEING CAREFUL WITH THE FAMILY FINANCES COULD HAVE DIRE RESULTS.
2: THE DISCIPLES FELL ASLEEP ON JESUS
A) IN THE GARDEN
B) THE THREE PETER, JAMES, AND JOHN
C) WATCH AND PRAY
POINT: THE LORD JESUS CHRIST WAS REVEALING HIS HUMAN NATURE TO THE THREE, THE PURPOSE OF THIS WAS TO GIVE THEM FIRST HAND EXPERIENCE FOR WHAT WAS TO COME FOR THEM. TWO OF THEM WOULD DRINK OF THE SAME CUP AND DIE A MARTYR’S DEATH. THE THIRD WOULD DIE ALONE AND ISOLATED FROM THE CHURCH. THEY NEEDED TO PAY ATTENTION, AND WATCH WHAT JESUS WAS DOING.
3: WHAT ARE SOME AREAS WE NEED PRAYERFUL ALERTNESS?
A) OUR MARRIAGE
B) OUR FINANCES
C) OUR SERVICE TO CHRIST
D) OUR FELLOWSHIP WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT
POINT: CHRISTIAN PEOPLE SHOULD ALWAYS BE ALERT TO WHAT IS GOING ON AROUND THEM, WE LIVE IN THE WORLD WE SHOULD BE IN THE WORLD BUT BE OF CHRIST.
CONCLUSION: WHY DID THE DISCIPLES FALL ASLEEP?
1: IT WAS LATE EVENING
A) THEY WERE PHYSICALLY TIRED
B) THEIR BODY OVERWHELMED THERE SPIRT
2: THE DEVIL WANTS THEM TO SLEEP
A) SATAN WOULD RATHER HAVE THEM AND US SLEEPING INSTEAD OF PRAYING
B) THROUGH PRAYER, GOD COULD HAVE GIVEN THEM THE PHYSICAL AND SPIRITUAL STRENGTH THEY NEEDEDTO STAY WITH AND SUPPORT JESUS.
JESUS WOULD STILL HAVE TAKEN THE CROSS, BUT THE DISCIPLES SITUATION COULD HAVE BEEN DIFFERENT, THEY COULD HAVE STAYED INSTEAD OF BEING SCATTERED.
FINAL POINT: WE CAN CHOOSE TO SPEND TIME BEING WATCHFUL AND ALERT IN PRAYER, OR WE CAN SLEEP AND NOT BE READY WHEN THE ACCUSER COMES TO OUR DOOR.
