Note 3 at Mt. 26:41: Our spirit is not our problem. The born- again Christian receives a new spirit at conversion (2 Cor. 5:17), which is just like Jesus (1 Jn. 4:17) because it is the Spirit of Jesus (Rom. 8:9; Gal. 4:6). Our born-again spirit is always willing to do God's will. It's our flesh that is the problem.

The flesh, as Jesus is using it here, not only includes our physical bodies but is also describing our soulish part, too (see note 2 at Mt. 22:37, p. 383). God has given every believer everything that it takes to walk in victory, but "we have this treasure in earthen vessels" (2 Cor. 4:7). That is to say that our spirit, which is where God has deposited all of His power and glory, is locked inside our flesh.

That does not mean that we cannot tap this divine source. As much as we will renew our minds (Rom. 12:2) and act on the Word of God (Jas. 2:20), we can experience this divine flow through our physical bodies. However, just as in the physical, muscles have to be used to increase in strength, so our soulish and physical parts have to be exercised unto godliness (1 Tim. 4:7-8).

Prayer is one important way of exercising ourselves unto godliness, and this is why Jesus admonished His disciples to watch and pray with Him.