I preach most Sundays at The Chapel. Since I enjoy preparing sermons as well as preaching them, I’m content with that rhythm. But every chance I get to sit in church on a Sunday morning and listen to someone else preach to me, I treasure. I’ve especially enjoyed Pastor Dave’s series on Community on Mission (with another installment coming on May 3rd). This past Sunday, it was a gift to hear from Pastor Mike Dsane of King’s Harbor Church. For this week’s blog, I want to share a few reflections from his sermon—particularly on the theme of dependence.
When I was in college, I got my hands on a book called The Death of Death in the Death of Christ by the 17th-century Puritan John Owen. I was in a season of trying to read as many Christian books as I could—it was shortly after I had committed my life to the Lord, and I was hungry. I had read somewhere (I think from John Piper) that it was a great book, but very “challenging,” which only made me want to read it more.
Truth be told, it was a very challenging book—probably too challenging for me at the time. I’m not sure how much of it I really understood. Not only was it written in 17th-century English, but it was considered a difficult read even in its own day. Still, I got enough from it to realize there was a depth to theology that was worth exploring, and I began reading every John Owen book I could find.
One of those was a collection of three treatises on sin bound together in a single volume, each around 150 pages. I found these shorter works to be among the most helpful things I read as a young Christian. Together, they offer a realistic picture of the Christian life and the ongoing struggle with sin. Each treatise is an extended meditation on a single verse of Scripture, carefully explained and applied.
The second treatise, On Temptation, is built on an excerpt from Matthew 26:41—the very passage Mike preached on: “Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
As Mike preached, I found myself reflecting on the massive gulf between our world today and the world John Owen wrote in—how different nearly every aspect of daily life is. And yet, here we were, listening to two preachers separated by centuries but united in the body of Christ—and at the heart of their message was the same truth:
Dependence.
Owen’s application begins with the total dependence Jesus calls us to. Temptation is too strong for us; we dare not face it on our own. The first step in the battle against sin is the embrace of the gospel—an honest acknowledgment of our weakness and our need. The promises of God are stronger than our flesh.
But this does not mean passivity, as though we simply drift along and let God act. “Watch,” Jesus says. Be alert. Stay ready. Strive to recognize the dangers of temptation that surround you. A watched city is prepared for the day of danger—so too is the soul.
And pray—pray, pray, pray. As Pastor Mike said, prayer is an acknowledgment, an honest confession of our dependence on the Lord. We seek his help because we are weak. Watching is not enough. We need the active power of God in our defense. Praise God—this is exactly what he has promised to give.
In response, let me commend a few things to you:
First, try memorizing Matthew 26:41. It’s short, but it’s a powerful verse to carry with you.
Second, listen to Pastor Mike’s sermon again. If you didn’t take notes the first time, jot some down. How might God be calling you to grow in your dependence on him?
Third, if you’re feeling ambitious, read John Owen—especially his treatise on this verse. There are abridged, more accessible versions available, but I’d encourage you to wade into the original. This Crossway edition does a great job preserving his style while updating some language and adding helpful notes.