BE WATCHFUL

BE WATCHFUL

"Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."   Matt 26:41 NIV

The bible implore us to be watchful. Not just being prayerful. We are to be at alert because the devil is looking for the slightest possible carelessness of every believer to take advantage of.

Even our God desire his children to be watchful.

         

Judges 7:4-7 KJV

“4 And the LORD said unto Gideon, The people are yet too many; bring them down unto the water, and I will try them for thee there: and it shall be, that of whom I say unto thee, This shall go with thee, the same shall go with thee; and of whomsoever I say unto thee, This shall not go with thee, the same shall not go.

5 So he brought down the people unto the water: and the LORD said unto Gideon, Every one that lappeth of the water with his tongue, as a dog lappeth, him shalt thou set by himself; likewise every one that boweth down upon his knees to drink.

6 And the number of them that lapped, putting their hand to their mouth, were three hundred men: but all the rest of the people bowed down upon their knees to drink water.

7 And the LORD said unto Gideon, By the three hundred men that lapped will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into thine hand: and let all the other people go every man unto his place.”

From the passage we could see that out of the ten thousand soldier that was with Gideon, God needed only few to prove that He is the God of Israel, so He put the whole army to test.

Those that drank the water from the river directly with their mouth and those that knelt down to drink the water were sent back home because they were drinking carelessly, not mindful of any sudden attack from the enemy. But the three hundred that scooped the water with their hand to drink, putting them at an advantage to react if enemies attack were chosen. The three hundred were watchful and at alert. That’s the way of a true soldier.

Jesus was also watchful when the devil spoke to him through peter, He rebuked the devil instantly.

Mark 8:31-33 KJV

31 And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. 32 And he spake that saying openly. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him.  33 But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.

Peter’s voice was heard but Jesus knew it was the devil because He knew the devil’s intentions. A believer must be watchful so he/she won’t fall into the temptation of the enemy.

Few ways a believer can be watchful include:

·   Flee from every appearance of unrighteousness, anything that looks like it. You are not a superman or superwoman when it comes to temptation, that’s why we are implored to FLEE so we won’t be roped up in it.

“Abstain from all appearance of evil.” 1 Thess. 5:22 KJV

·  Don’t be ignorant of the devil and his mode of operation, he wants to exploit his destructive work silently when the victim isn’t aware until it is too late for the victim, Don’t let him.

“Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.” 2 Cor 2:11 KJV

·   Never engage the devil in a discussion or negotiation. In Matt. 4:1-11, The devil tempted Jesus three times but it was until the third time when Jesus rebuked the devil, that was when the devil left. The first two were discussions, it only gave the devil impression that he could do more, so the temptation continued but when Jesus commanded the devil to depart, then he left.

Don’t negotiate or engage the devil in discussion, Rebuke him instantly.

“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”James 4:7 KJV

Brethren, Don’t give the enemy the slightest opportunity, the devil has nothing to offer except destruction, JESUS IS ALMOST BACK, Be watchful, Be vigilant and God in His mercy will preserve us.

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour”  I Pet. 5:8

                             ………………….…………………… God bless you