Are You Watching

Shortly before Jesus and His disciples celebrated what is known as the "Last Supper," his disciples ask Him about the end times. (Matthew 24 - 25) The first thing Jesus tells them is, "take heed that no one deceives you." (Matthew 24:4) Although Jesus tells them, "For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many" (Matthew 24:5), the fact is, deception began in the Garden of Eden as the one who is the deceiver, (Revelation 12:9), who spoke to the woman. As we see Jesus telling the disciples, "many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ." Satan's tactics have not changed. His whole deceptive plan is to deceive people, even believers, away from the one and only true God and especially the deity and humanity of Jesus (1 John 4:1-3). He does this by deceiving them into believing his lies by continuously working at discrediting God and His Word. We see this through all the false religions, so called Christian cults, (I dislike using the term Christian and cult together, but that is what they are referred to) and occultic practices, not only in the world, but also accepted among many believers in the name of fantasy, child's play and or entertainment.  

After Jesus tells the disciples of the end time and after they celebrate the first communion (Last Supper) they head to the Garden of Gethsemane. One of the most important things that He tells them is, "Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Matthew 26:41) Remember, He just recently told them to, "take heed that no one deceives you." Now He tells them to "watch." The word watch means, to be alert; stay on the alert; keep watch; keep watching. Why does Jesus tell them this? "Lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." Satan is not only the deceiver, but he is also the tempter. (Matthew 4:3) 

These things are very important for all believers to know. Why? Even some of the strongest believers in the Bible were deceived and or tempted by the devil which caused painful consequences. Today, many extreme or unbalanced teaching takes place in the church, for one purpose, the devil uses them to deceive and or tempt people away from sound doctrine to believe a lie which leads Christian's into a life without any disciplines or power. (1 Timothy 4:1) The Apostle Paul warns us in 2 Timothy 3 of the apostasy that will come upon believers. This apostasy can happen to the strongest believer(s) if we do not continuously watch and stay alert.

So, we need to be watchful, staying alert and continuously looking at our lives to see if there is  anything that is contrary to the entire counsel of God's Word, not what we pick and choose to justify ourselves, but the entire authority of the scriptures. This is why it is so important that we have other believers, especially mature believers, in our lives, giving them access to our lives, to help us so that we are not deceived and are not led into temptation that may lead to sin. We must understand that if there is anything in our lives that does not align with God's Word, even if we ourselves do not see anything wrong with it, then we must conclude that the devil has deceived us. Solomon tells us, "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death." (Proverbs 14:12; 16:25)  

This may be a hard word, but remember, "The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." Satan will always go after the flesh with his deceptions and temptations to get to the believer. He used this tactic in the Garden of Eden, he used it against Jesus and uses the same today against believers. He goes after the flesh using, "the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life." (1 John 2:16) However, believers have the greatest weapons to expose, defuse and destroy the schemes of the devil, the Holy Spirit, the Word of God and God's love.

If we are truly willing to weigh ourselves with God's Word and let the God kind of love take hold of our lives, then we will never give place to Satan's deceptions and temptations. We will see the works of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21) completely replaced by the fruit of the spirit. (Galatians 5:22-23) The Apostle Paul tells us, "And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another." (Galatians 5:24-26) So, let us move forward in the power of His might, living victorious lives with one another, glorifying the Lord in all things. 

The Apostle James tells us, "Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you." (James 4:7) So, let us be watchful, keeping alert, and "do not give place to the devil." (Ephesians 4:27) Amen?