Sa Colosas 4:2, Paul commanded to give constant attention to prayer, constantly vigilant in it with thanksgiving. Every born again Christian should have a prayer life and pray persistently. Because through obedience to God and His Word and persistent prayer a Christian is able to discern and resist the whiles of the devil and overcome all the carnal temptations, which cause apostasy to the will of God. In the previous blogpost ‘Ang pagpapako sa krus ng kaluluwa', the battle between Jesus and the deadly spirit of fear was discussed. Sa hardin ng Getsemani, you’ll see the difference between the new man (Panginoong Hesukristo) and the old man (the disciples) in reference to persistent prayer and the fruit thereof. Let’s look at what the Bible says about persistent prayer and why persistent prayer is important.
The new man prays and watch
In the garden of Gethsemane Jesus battled against the spirit of fear. Through persistent prayer, Jesus had crucified His soul and was able to go the difficult way of the cross and fulfill plano ng Diyos para sa Kanyang buhay (Mateo 26:36-46).
Sa bawat oras, Jesus was tempted Jesus had the ability to give in to the temptation. Even after His spiritual battle in the garden of Gethsemane, when the chief priests, captains of the temple, and elders came to Jesus and took Jesus captive, Jesus had the ability to deny Himself and walk away. Jesus even had the ability to pray to His Father, Who could send Him more than twelve legions of angels (Mateo 26:53).
And when Jesus was brought before the council, Jesus had the ability to defend Himself and deny all the accusations and pleated Himself not guilty. But Jesus didn’t do that so that the scriptures would be fulfilled.
Sa pamamagitan ni Hesus’ persistent prayer, Jesus stayed loyal and obedient to His Father and resisted and overcame every temptation.
The old man can’t pray and watch
Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of Me this night: sapagka't nasusulat, I will smite the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad (Mateo 26:31)
Gayunpaman, His disciples, who were carnal and belonged to the generation of the matandang lalaki, were not able to pray and watch and as a result of that, they were not able to stand. They were not able to resist the temptations in the flesh, but they gave in to the temptations and denied Jesus Christ and left Jesus alone, just as Jesus prophesied. Even Peter, who said to Jesus, that He would never take offense to Him and therefore would never leave Him. Peter not only left Jesus, but he even denied Him. Peter denied Jesus not once, but three times (Basahin din: ‘Simon Pedro, the man who loved Jesus').
The reason, why they were not able to stand was that they couldn’t pray. Although Jesus had taught His disciples to pray, they were not able to pray and watch. Because they were still the old creation and their flesh reigned in their lives and the flesh can’t pray (Basahin din: ‘Bakit hindi manalangin ang laman?).
Jesus brought three of His disciples with Him to pray, but both times His disciples fell asleep.
Even after Jesus had commanded them the second time to watch and pray, so that they wouldn’t be led into temptation, His disciples were not able to watch and pray and gave in to the temptation and fell asleep (Luke 9:28-32; 22:39-46, Mateo 26:36-46)
Because of the fact that they were still the old creation and walked after the flesh, they were led and overwhelmed by feelings of sadness, that caused them to sleep.
They were not yet born again and therefore they were not spiritual and didn’t see the spiritual danger. They didn’t spiritually battle and pray persistently against their carnal feelings. sa halip, they allowed their carnal feelings of sadness to take hold of them and reign over them.
Jesus warned His disciples
Although Jesus had commanded and warned them twice to watch and pray, they didn’t listen and obeyed the words of Jesus, but they obeyed the feelings of their flesh (Mateo 26:36-46, marka 14:32-42).
Dahil sa katotohanan, that they were not able to pray and watch, they not only gave in to the temptation and fell asleep, but they were also not able to resist the temptation during Jesus’ captivity and stay with Him. sa halip, they were offended and left Jesus.
Because they had not overcome their flesh through persistent prayer, they were not able to stay with Jesus and be taken captive as well. sa halip, they were overwhelmed and led by feelings of fear and were offended and left Him and denied Him.
But Jesus had crucified His soul through persistent prayer and had overcome His flesh, and that’s why Jesus was able to go the difficult way of the cross. Jesus didn’t resist His captivity and didn’t scream and yell. But Jesus allowed to be handed over in the hands of sinners and stayed obedient to the words and will of His Father.
A lack of persistent prayer and disobedience to the Word
Be giving constant attention to prayer, constantly vigilant in it with thanksgiving (Mga taga-Colosas 4:2)
Maraming Kristiyano, who are still the old creation or keep living as the old creation, and due to a lack of persistent prayer and because they are not willing to listen to the Word and do the Word, they are not able to stand in the faith and in the will of God and resist the temptations.
Many Christians are tempted in the flesh and the temptations of the world and give into them and give heed to seducing spirits and mga doktrina ng mga demonyo and become apostate to the faith and the kalooban ng Diyos.
Dahil sa katotohanan, that their flesh reigns and they are led by their flesh, they are asleep and spiritual death. They don’t see the dangers of the flesh.
They are not aware of the spiritual forces, kapangyarihan, mga pamunuan, and rulers of the darkness of this world, who are present and active and gain more and more ground in the lives of people..
Hindi, they have ears, but don’t hear, and have eyes, but don’t see. Instead of being born again and nakaupo kay Hesukristo and ruling in His authority and in the power of the Holy Spirit over the spiritual forces, kapangyarihan, mga pamunuan, and rulers of darkness, they rule over them, and as a result, many Christians live as slaves of the darkness.
What is the result of a lack of persistent prayer?
In these times, we see, that due to the increase of apostasy and the decrease in obedience to the will of God, many people, who say that they believe, are afraid to take a stand on the truth of the Word of God and are afraid to come out for Jesus Christ.
They are afraid and don’t have the courage to take a stand on the Word of God, because they are afraid of hurting people’s feelings and are afraid of the opinions of people and the result thereof.
They are afraid, that people will not like them, reject them, criticize them, accuse them of lovelessness or even discrimination, and therefore, they’d rather keep their mouths shut and don’t say what the Word says. sa halip, they equivocate and don’t give any clear answer, but tell the people what they want to hear or they keep silent. But by not telling the truth, they allow and justify the works of the devil and deny Jesus Christ. And that’s all, due to a lack of persistent prayer.
Through a lack of persistent prayer, many Christians are not able to resist the temptations and give in to the lusts and desires of the flesh and the temptations that come through people and cause them to leave and deny the Word. And if they are not able to take a stand in these times, and leave and deny Jesus Christ, how are they able to stand during the great tribulation and persecution? Who is able to stand?
‘Maging asin ng lupa’
