Monday July 24th, 2023
« Watch and pray so that you will not enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak. »
10 Finally, build up your strength in union with the Lord and by means of His mighty power.
11 Put on all the armor that God gives you, so that you will be able to stand up against the Devil’s evil tricks.
12 For we are not fighting against human beings but against the wicked spiritual forces in the heavenly world, the rulers, authorities, and cosmic powers of this Dark Age.
13 So put on God’s armor now! Then when the evil day comes, you will be able to resist the enemy’s attacks; and after fighting to the end, you will still hold your ground.
14 So stand ready, with truth as a belt tight around your waist, with righteousness as your breastplate,
15 and as your shoes the readiness to announce the Good News of peace.
16 At all times carry faith as a shield; for with it you will be able to put out all the burning arrows shot by the Evil One.
17 And accept salvation as a helmet, and the word of God as the sword which the Spirit gives you.
18 Do all this in prayer, asking for God’s help. Pray on every occasion, as the Spirit leads. For this reason keep alert and never give up; pray always for all God’s people.
The memory verse of today is one of the warnings in the Bible that should send chills through anybody’s spine. I consider it very scary.
After the All-knowing God had carefully assessed the circumstances surrounding human existence, He concluded that humans need to be careful to survive this dangerously deceptive world.
Sobriety and vigilance are the two major components of watchfulness.
To be watchful is to be alert, watching over someone or waiting for some significant event.
The Bible lays particular emphasis on the need to watch for fake prophets (Matthew 7:15), false doctrines (Hebrews 13:9), the antichrist (2 John 1:7) and the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 24:42).
God expects every one of His children to be sober (abstinence) and vigilant (alert) in watching against temptations and sin such as:
- Pride – too much focus on one’s achievements and/or inadequacies.
- Worldliness – adopting the habits of unbelievers. Taste for the things of the world.
- Self-righteousness – Glorifying in one’s abilities, not relying on God’s grace.
- Immorality – living by standards other than the Bible’s.
- Complacency – ‘no need to worry everything will be ok’ attitude.
- Lukewarmness – comfortable to be average.
- Spiritual barrenness – Living for oneself.
- Rebellion against constituted authority.
We must not be confounded by negative news around the world; rather we should respond with understanding as persons who are informed and therefore well-prepared to watch for signs of the end times.
« Let us not sleep, like the rest, but let us stay awake and be self-controlled. »
Beloved, wake up!
Christians cannot afford to lose focus for a moment; our heart must be kept with all diligence.
We must watch the crafty attempts of the enemy to attack the authority of Scripture.
Watch against worldliness and the quest for ungodly pleasures.
Every member of the body of Christ must watch against the secularization of the Church and protect its sanctity against false prophets, sexual immorality and all sinful practices.
Prayer point: Father, please help me to be sober and watchful in all things, in the Mighty Name of Jesus.
Author: Bishop Enoch. A. Adeboye.
Edited by Naomie
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