Be sober, be vigilant Bible verse meaning

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”

This verse is a reminder that the devil is constantly at work, seeking ways to steal from us, to kill us, and to destroy us. He uses every opportunity at his disposal to discourage us. To make us give up the good fight of the faith. Remember, his mission has always been to steal, to kill, and to destroy (John 10:10).

Be sober, be vigilant, because the devil comes to steal everything from you

Therefore, his mission is to steal everything from you. He comes to steal your joy. He comes to steal your peace. He comes to steal your spouse. He comes to steal your children. He comes to steal your resources. He comes to steal your health. He comes to steal your friend. He comes to steal your neighborhood. He comes to steal your city. He comes to steal your country! So arise and resist him!

Be sober, be vigilant, because the devil comes to kill everything you have

In this regard, he comes to kill all that you are and all that you have. He comes to kill your career. He comes to kill your business. He comes to kill your dreams. He comes to kill your vision. He comes to kill your marriage. He comes to kill your children. He comes to kill your relationships. Specifically, he comes to kill your relationship with men. He comes to kill your relationship with God. All he wants is to see everything in your life dead and buried! Including your person!

Be sober, be vigilant, because the devil comes to destroy all that you have

In this case, he comes to completely finish you. To annihilate anything concerning you. He wants you and all that concerns you totally wiped out of the face of the earth. So he will look for opportunities to waste you, your spouse, your children, your resources, your friends, your neighborhood, your city, and even your nation!

How then can you be sober or be vigilant?

There are several ways to remain sober and vigilant against the onslaught by the devil. They include the following:

Be sober, be vigilant by resisting the devil

The Bible teaches that we should resist the devil, and he will flee from us (1 Peter 5:8-9). So the key here is to learn to resist him. Resist everything that represents him and his ways. So resist fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness (Colossians 3:5). Also, resist him by putting off anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, and filthy language out of your mouth (Colossians 3:8). In addition, you resist the devil by putting off lying (Colossians 3:9). This is because the devil is the father of lies (John 8:44). This means when you walk in lies, you are as good as the devil himself! So learn to speak the truth at all times.

Be sober; be vigilant by being watchful

Jesus taught his disciples to remain watchful at all times because no one knows the day nor the hour in which he shall come back to judge the world (Matthew 24:42; Matthew 25:13). In Revelation 22:12, Jesus warns us to remain vigilant because the time is near. The scripture says

“And behold, I am coming quickly, and my reward is with me, to give everyone according to his work.”

In light of this, the apostle Paul urges us to awake from sleep. He says that the night is far spent and that the day is at hand. He therefore encourages us to cast off revelry, lewdness, drunkenness, strife, and envy. Instead, he urges us to put on the armor of light so that when Christ appears in his second coming, we shall not be put to shame (Romans 13:11-13).

Be sober, be vigilant by praying without ceasing

Furthermore, Christ Jesus stressed to the disciples the need to pray without ceasing in order not to fall into temptation (Matthew 26:41). This means that when you make prayer your lifestyle, you will not easily fall victim to the many temptations the devil throws at you. In Colossians 4:2, the apostle Paul urges us to earnestly continue in prayer, remaining vigilant in it with thanksgiving. So dear brother, prayer is one tool you can employ to effectively resist the devil.

Be sober; be vigilant by putting on the full armor of God

Scriptures teach that when you put on the whole armor of God, you are well placed to stand against the wiles of the devil (Ephesians 6:11). Actually, the armor helps to keep you beyond the devil’s reach. So he won’t be able to devour you.

This very important armor is comprised of the helmet of salvation, the sword of the spirit, the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the preparation of the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, and continuous prayer with supplications (Ephesians 6:13-18).

With this armor in place, you will be able to withstand the evil day and, after all is said and done, to stand (Ephesians 6:13).

Be sober, be vigilant by being anxious for nothing

Worry and anxiety are two tools the devil has effectively used to prevent many Christians from leading sober lives. This has made many of them stop pursuing the kingdom of God and His righteousness. Instead, many are directing all their efforts and energies in pursuit of the perishable things of this world! Christ Jesus warns us against making the pursuit of the things of this world our main focus (Matthew 6:31). This is because when the cares of this world become our preoccupation, we become unfruitful in matters concerning the kingdom of God (Matthew 13:22).

Now, the danger of being unfruitful is stated in John 15:4-6. In this scripture, Christ clearly states that branches that are no longer able to bear fruit will be cut off and thrown into the fire and burn (John 15:4-6).

So in order to remain sober and vigilant, let us embrace the lesson found in Philippians 4:6-7, which says:

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

So stay sober, stay vigilant by remaining worry-less!

Be sober, be vigilant by studying the word of God

Christ Jesus was able to defeat the devil in the wilderness by constantly referring him to the scriptures. In all the three times the devil tempted him, Christ responded by saying, ‘It is written! It is written! It is written!’ (Matthew 4:4, 7, 10). And so the devil departed from him (Matthew 4:11).

Likewise, you can only defeat the devil by referring him to scriptures, just like Christ did. However, how will you be able to quote what you have not read nor studied? It is for this reason that every Christian should seriously engage in Bible study and meditation. Christ himself told us that man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4).

The apostle Paul urges believers to arm themselves with the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, in order to effectively resist the devil (Ephesians 6:17).

I hope this is helpful. Thank you.

Source: https://www.biblegateway.com/

‘Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To him who loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood and has made us kings and priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.’ (Revelation 1:4-6)

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