When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. "Why are you sleeping?" he asked them. "Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation." (Luke 22:45-46 NIV)

In this passage, Mark describes the worst night in the earthly life of Jesus. He faces the cross as he prepares to bear the sin of humanity. Intense pressure squeezes him. As he prays, the sweat flows from him as drops of blood.

Jesus commanded his disciples to join him in prayer. In this time of intense trial, Jesus wanted their support. But, even more importantly, Jesus knows that the disciples are facing temptation, and he knows that the grace to overcome that temptation is found in prayer.

In Matthew's account of this night, Jesus says, "Could you men not watch with me for one hour?" Jesus directed the question to Peter. The manner in which Jesus addresses Peter causes me to wonder, if Peter in his slumber was neglecting an opportunity to receive grace and strength from God that would have empowered him to not deny his Lord later that night. I do not know the answer to that question, but I do know that it is never the will of God for the believer to succumb to temptation.

James describes the nature of temptation in James 3:13-16.

1. No one should say that God is tempting him.
2. God cannot be tempted by evil.
3. God does not tempt anyone.
4. The believer is tempted, when he is dragged away and enticed by his own evil desire.
5. When that desire conceives, it gives birth to sin, and sin when it is full grown gives birth to death.

Paul writes in I Corinthians 10:13: No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. (NIV)

God always provides a "way out." It is never the will of God to sin.

It is important to note that sleep and rest are gifts from God. Look at these verses below.

In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat—for he grants sleep to those he loves. (Psalm 127:2 NIV)

When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. (Proverbs 3:24 NIV)

The Scripture also warns of the dangers of sleeping too much. (See Proverbs 6:9-10; Proverbs 20:13; Proverbs 24:33.) God wants his children to maintain the proper balance between work and rest. That we can do with the help of the Holy Spirit.

In this passage from Luke, Jesus reveals a direct correlation between prayer and the grace to resist temptation. In Matthew's account, Jesus says, "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak." (Matthew 26:41 NIV)

Paul said to the church at Colosse, "Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful." (Colossians 4:2 NIV)

Here are some principles from the Word of God that will help us in dealing with temptation.

1. Maintain a discipline of prayer. Have a regular time and place for prayer each day. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you establish this discipline. He knows what will work best for you. Be willing to go to bed earlier, so you can rise early to pray. Be willing to turn the television off so you can pray. In the car, turn the radio or the music off so you can pray. A disciplined prayer life is the first step to victory.

2. Be willing to engage the Holy Spirit in special seasons of prayer as he leads you. The disciples in the garden were exhausted. Jesus knew that they needed rest, but he also knew at that moment they needed the presence of God in prayer more than they needed sleep. Learn to be sensitive to the leadership of the Holy Spirit.

3. Learn to be watchful in prayer. Expect the Holy Spirit to reveal to you persons who are in need of prayer, and who are facing serious temptation. What you sow is what you reap. If you obey the Holy Spirit in helping others in prayer, then the Holy Spirit will lead others to intercede for you in your time of temptation.

   Thirty years ago as a young, single pastor in southwest Mississippi, I tried to do a favor for a group of people. In the midst of that endeavor, I experienced a demonic attack of temptation unlike anything I have ever experienced in my life. By the grace of God I survived. The next week I saw a friend, and he asked me what happened the previous Saturday night. He was visiting friends that weekend, and they had plans for that night. But, the Holy Spirit laid a strong burden on my friend's heart to pray for me. He spent the evening in prayer for me. His intercession could have been the difference between victory and defeat that Saturday night. (Consider studying the Bible verses on watching. There are numerous references in the Word of God.)

4. When the temptation is strong, seek help from the body of Christ. God never requires that you face the battle alone. To the humble God gives grace. Don't be proud and stand alone, because you may fall. Better to stand with others, than to fall into temptation alone. Often the "way out" that Paul mentions in I Corinthians 10:13 means seeking help from others in the body of Christ.

Be diligent to maintain the proper balance between sleep and work. Do not neglect or abuse your physical body. However, spiritually it is time to obey the command of the apostle Paul below.

And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts. (Romans 13:11-14 NKJV)

Wayne L. Williams
March 18, 2006