1 Thessalonians 5:6-11 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep in the night, and those who get drunk are drunk in the night. But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.
This is the warning of the great Apostle Paul to all believers. DO NOT SLEEP. Rather, WATCH AND BE SOBER. Now, like no time before, is the time to heed these Words.
We must maintain an active and close relationship with Christ in these days. We cannot allow Satan to rob us of our faith. When Paul speaks of people who “sleep in the night” he is referring to those who are living in spiritual darkness. Night is representative of the dark and Satan is the Prince of Darkness.
We cannot be overcome by the darkness around us. The world is dark and becoming darker by the day. As Satan controls the people of the world, darkness prevails. This is what we see in our society today. The Bible warns us of this as well. Right will be called wrong and wrong will be called right.
When all that the Word of God says is deemed “wrong” in our society, we are indeed living in a world of darkness, controlled by Satan and his demons. To think otherwise is to be foolish. These are the times in which we live.
Paul’s use of the words “get drunk” is in reference to our spiritual condition, NOT drunk on alcohol. A state of drunkenness causes one to be out of control, slow to react, lethargic, and mentally dull. We must guard against being spiritually out of control, spiritually slow to react, spiritually lethargic, and have spiritually dull minds. This is a reference to our spiritual condition. All this is the work of the enemy to rob people of their faith and unfortunately, it is an accurate portrayal of much of the Body of Christ today.
Then Paul immediately tells us how we should be conducting ourselves when he writes, But (on the other hand) let us (believers) who are of the day (the Light, which is Jesus) be sober, (alert and clear-minded) putting on the breastplate (that which guards the heart) of faith and love, and as a helmet (that which guards our brain and mind) the Hope of Salvation.
This is a description of how God wants us to lead our lives on an everyday basis. He goes on to tell us why we should live in this manner: For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain Salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.
Faith, Love, and the Hope of Salvation will sustain us through the storms of life. With our faith planted squarely and solely in Christ, the Love of God will rule our lives and the Hope of our Salvation will give us the strength and courage to face each day and what it brings.
In an attempt to fulfill the instructions of Paul, I encourage you today to stand firm, be bold, hold your head up high, remain alert and watchful, live and remain in the Light, and keep the Faith. Paul said, Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.
God will……..turn the tide
Sober, Doreen
www.bettsministries.org
