Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. Matthew 26:41
WHAT IS PASSIVITY OR BEING PASSIVE
Someone passive: is without active response or resistance
• Passivity is a characteristic of someone who holds back and lets others act.
o When they should also be acting
• To be passive is to have no resistance and yield to external influences.
• Showing or feeling no interest, enthusiasm, or concern
• Lacking energy, drive, motivation, or emotion
• Accepting or allowing what happens or what others do, without active response or resistance
THERE IS GOOD PASSIVITY PASSIVITY IS APPROPRIATE WHEN WE ARE BEING SUBMISSIVE TO THE WILL OF GOD THIS KIND WAS SHOWN BY JESUS ON THE NIGHT OF HIS ARREST
He submitted to the abuse of his captors,
• Rather than allow his disciple to fight for him
1 Peter 2:23: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:
• Jesus Christ, did nothing to stop those that bound him in ropes, mock him and beat him
But he had also told his disciples that he could have called twelve legions of Angels
Matthew 26:53: Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?
• Jesus sought to do the will of the Father
• Submitted Himself willing to the cross
PASSIVITY BECAME DESTRUCTIVE TO DAVID A MIGHTY MAN OF GOD
2 Samuel 11:1: And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem.
• David did not answer his call to duty
• He did not take care of his responsibilities
o He was not where he was supposed to be
o He was supposed to be on the battlefield leading his troops
• He stayed in the comfort zone of the palace
• As a result, he had TOO MUCH TIME ON HIS HANDS
THE INSTRUCTIONS THROUGHOUT SCRIPTURE DON’T REQUIRE PASSIVITY.
THEY CALL US TO TAKE ACTION. WE ARE COMMANDED TO PUT AWAY PASSIVITY AND DO THESE THINGS:
PRAY WITHOUT CEASING
1 Thessalonians 5:17: Pray without ceasing.
PREACH THE WORD
2 Timothy 4:2: Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER
Hebrews 3:13: But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
LOVE ONE ANOTHER
1 Peter 1:22: 22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:
FLEE FROM SEXUAL IMMORALITY AND LUSTFUL SEXUAL THINGS TO EYES AND EAR
1 Corinthians 6:18: Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.
HONOR PARENTS
Ephesians 6:2: Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise;
PUT TO DEATH . . . THE COMPONENTS OF YOUR EARTHLY NATURE: SEXUAL IMMORALITY, IMPURITY, LUST, EVIL DESIRES, AND GREED, WHICH IS IDOLATRY
Colossians 3:5: Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
HONOR THE LORD IN YOUR BODY AND SPIRIT WHICH BELONG TO HIM
1 Corinthians 6:20: For ye are bought with a price: therefore, glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s
Give your heart to Jesus today by saying this prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank you for dying on the cross for my sin. Please forgive me. Come into my life. I receive You as my Lord and Savior. Please, help me to live for you the rest of this life. Fill me with your Holy Spirit. In the name of Jesus, I pray.
Amen.