KNOW YOUR ENEMY: BE SOBER, BE VIGILANT

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” – I Peter 5:8

REFERENCE:

I PETER 5:6-11

As believers in Christ, we are constantly at war with ungodly spirits that attempt to pull us away from our relationship with God and bring us under God’s judgment. Our main adversary is the devil, whom scripture reveals is God’s arch-enemy and despises everything that God loves. Since you and I are the object of God’s love, the devil hates us and works hard at trying to destroy us.

In order to walk and live in perpetual victory over our adversary, it is important that we know him, his strategy(ies), and his mode of attack. We will be looking at these in the next 4 days. II Corinthians 2:11 counsels that we should not be ignorant of the wiles (tricks) of satan, lest he takes advantage of us. Sun Tzu (6^th Century BC), a Chinese war general and military strategist said, “If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.” In spiritual battles, ignorance is way too costly and knowledge is very vital. So, know your enemy, be aware of his strategies, and you would have half won the war.

For this reason, Peter counsels us to be sober and vigilant, both being key ingredients for gaining knowledge and for intelligence gathering, considering that our adversary has been around for ages and has dealt with man for thousands of years and defeated many. You therefore, cannot be careless, carefree, and/or unconcerned about your life, while hoping to triumph over the devil.

To be sober is to be calm, temperate, and seriously thoughtful in character and demeanor. It is to be clear headed enough to take clear and informed decisions. We say someone is sober when he is not under the influence of intoxicating drinks which impair his judgment; when he can keep his appetites under proper restraint. To be vigilant is to be alert and watchful, especially to avoid danger; it is to keep awake and be on the lookout. It is being watchful against the subtle designs of spiritual enemies, being sensitive and discerning, and not just taking things at face-value, but checking to see if it is of God or the devil. If you lack both sobriety and vigilance, you become easy prey for the devil, unable to see him coming at you (blindsided) or mistaking him for a friend.

Being sober and vigilant enables you to accurately see the enemy for who he is. It makes you a difficult prey because you are shielded from demonic ‘stray bullets,’ rarely ever caught off-guard by satan. You would see him from a mile away and avoid his temptations before they come; you will be quick to arrest and kill negative thoughts before they lead to negative words or actions. You will, like Jesus Christ, be able to discern the enemy’s disguise as He did when Peter tried to dissuade Him from going to the cross; He said, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me.”

From tomorrow, we will look at the different ways the enemy comes to us.

PHOTO QUOTE:

ADDITIONAL TEXTS:

Matthew 13:24-28, Matthew 24:43-44 & Proverbs 7:21-23

PRAYERS:

+ Lord, sharpen my discernment that I may be alert and watchful against the devices of the enemy, in whatever form they come–through close associates, social media or even my thoughts.

+ I cancel and bring under subjection every demonic attack and every plan of the evil one to destroy me or God’s plans and purposes concerning my life. They shall not work.

+ I receive grace to be sober and vigilant in these last days and I will live victorious, steadfast in faith, in Jesus’ name, Amen.