BECOME SOBER AND VIGILANT

Proverbs 31: 1 - 5; Galatians 4: 8 - 20; Luke 12: 35 - 48

INTRODUCTION

A soldier at war never takes off his sight on the lookout for the enemies. Onward Christian soldiers marching to war with the arch-enemy Lucifer must be sober and vigilant always. Become sober and vigilant can be represented by the single word, “watchfulness”. In Proverbs 31: 1 – 5, the mother of the king advised him to watch out for two important things in life. She said:

“Do not give your strength to women, your ways to those who destroy kings. It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to take strong drink”

So the king is called to watch out for these two things:

(i) women and

(ii) strong (or alcoholic) drinks.

Had it been today, the mother would have said, do not give your strength to side chics. By this, it does not mean that women are evil, NO! I am also sure that if she was advising her daughter, she would have said, do not give your strength to men (i.e. sugar daddies, side dudes and gigolos”. So the issue has to do with sexual immorality.

It is not for Christians to give his/her strength to women/men; drink wine, or Christ-like to take strong drink. Be sober and vigilant not to fall into sexual immorality.

Sexual immorality and alcoholism have destroyed many great people, broken many homes and families and devastated communities and societies. Be sober and vigilant not to fall into these pits.

When a person becomes intoxicated by the lust for sex or alcohol, he/she “. . . forgets what has been decreed and pervert the rights of all the afflicted” (Prov. 31:5). That is how come that a married man may not take care of his own children but yet find money the rent an apartment for a girl young enough to be his daughter.

Many are being blackmailed and manipulated to do the unthinkable because they are entangled in some sexual relations. I pray that you will be saved from that adulterous and flirtatious person around you.

Today in Ghana, the slogan "Papa no" has become very popular out of this adulterous and fornicatious lifestyle people have involved themselves.

WATCH HOW YOU LIVE

Apostle Paul says, “Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods. But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more? (Gal. 4:8 & 9).

So having come into Christ (allowing Christ to be formed in us) we cannot live our lives anyhow. We are to watch how we live. Being sober and vigilant in the things of God. Paul’s desire for the Galatian believers, for which reason he labored was that, “Christ will be formed in them” (Gal. 4:19).

Your life should resemble that of Christ Jesus, in righteousness and purity.

WATCHOUT FOR THE COMING CHRIST

Our sobriety and vigilance should be focused on the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. When one considers the way believers are living our lives these days, dabbling in sin and compromising with the world; one may think that the judgement will never come.

Like a soldier at war, the moment you lose sight of the enemy then he pounces on you. "Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." 1 Peter 5:8.

In the gospel reading, Jesus tells us, “Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning, and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks” Luke 12: 35 & 36.

Jesus continues with a stern warning saying, “But know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect” (Luke 12:39 & 40)

CONCLUSION

Are you ready for the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ? Just as a thief comes unexpected, the son of man will come at a time that we do not expect. Therefore let’s learn to be sober and vigilant. Stay away from sexual immorality and alcohol.

SHALOM ALEICHEM... ASOMDWOE NKA WO...