Category: Being Vigilant

Bible Verse of The Day – 8-28-23

1 Peter 5:8 (NKJV) 8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

Most of us are familiar with this verse. It is often used to teach us about who our enemy (the devil) is and how he operates.

But it also teaches us how we should act if we hope to successfully counter his actions.

What does it say?

It says we are to be sober and vigilant.

Most uses of the word, “sober”, refer to not being under the influence of alcohol.

Although not being drunk or under the influence of alcohol is a good thing, in this case being sober means something a little different.

It actually means to be self-controlled, self-disciplined; not foolish or flippant with our actions.

Then, it instructs us to be vigilant. This is a particularly important word for us to remember.

To be vigilant means to be watchful, attentive, observant, alert, on guard, wide awake.

When we are in a state of vigilance, it is hard for anyone to sneak things by us.

We see everything. We discern everything. We are ready for whatever comes at us.

Conversely, many people fall into complacency.

Being complacent is the opposite of being vigilant. When we are complacent, we are lax, laid back, too relaxed.

Sometimes this is due to feeling like nothing can touch us. Other times it is simply that we don’t want to expend the energy or take the time to do what we should do. We just don’t think it is important enough to warrant our time and energy.

And that complacency will get us into trouble every time.

So, let us follow God’s word and be the sober, vigilant people He has called us to be. Let us not drop our guard or become lax in defending against the onslaught of the enemy.

Amen

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

Seven Seas Ministries
49 N Lamplighters Walk
Hampstead, NC 28443

401-439-3780

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Bible Verse of The Day – 4-12-21

Mark 13:35-36 (NKJV) 35 Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming—in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning— 36 lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping.

As we move forward with this devotional, I’d like to focus on the very last phrase, which is verse 36. But I’d like to pull it from another translation (NLT), that I feel words it better.

“Don’t let him find you sleeping when he arrives without warning“.

As we have taught frequently during the last several months, we are living in a season that requires heightened awareness and sharpened discernment.

It is absolutely critical that we have our eyes wide open and be sure we are wide awake.

We have surged ahead on the timeline of events that are leading to the end days.

No, I’m not saying or insinuating that Jesus will return next week. I have no such knowledge.

I am saying, though, that we are now living in a time when we need to be ever so watchful.

Much of what we see isn’t as it would appear, and it’s critical that we be able to look beyond what we see with our natural eyes, and discern with the Spirit of God to see what’s really happening.

The days of heavy persecution of believers, even in “free countries”, are looming and are actually upon us in many ways.

People who live by God’s word and the values He has taught us are falling under increasing persecution, and even exclusion from much of today’s cultures.

This is evidenced by lawsuits against people of faith who stand firmly on Biblical truths and refuse to participate in things that are contrary to God’s word.

It is evidenced further by the removal of books by conservative authors from well-known websites and retail book sellers.

And we can see the culmination of it in the removal of videos and other digital media from many of the well-known media-sharing websites and popular social media portals.

Make no mistake. This is a blatant attempt to silence our voices. It is a devilish plot to eliminate us from all parts of society that offer us any influence whatsoever on those who may want to learn more about God and His truths.

So, we need to be ever so diligent in continuing to stand for truth, not backing down in fear.

More importantly, we need to be sure that we actually recognize truth and are able to separate it from lies and deception. And in doing this, we need to make sure that we are awake, and not lulled to sleep by lies and deception.

“Don’t let him find you sleeping when he arrives without warning“.

The time is now, church, to be sure we are wide awake.

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

Seven Seas Ministries
P.O. Box 272
Bradford, RI 02808

401-315-0902

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Bible Verse of The Day – 10-30-18

1 Thessalonians 5:5-6 (NKJV) 5 You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober.

As children of God, we are sons and daughters of light, not of darkness. This should have a big impact on our lives each and every day.

Our lives should reflect the things of light; integrity, honesty, love, compassion, mercy, steadfastness, patience and so much more. These should be plainly visible in what we say and do each day.

We should not be “asleep”, meaning that we should not be spiritually dull, complacent, apathetic or spiritually indifferent.

Instead, God tells us that we need to be watchful and sober. This means that we need to be alert, vigilant, attentive, perceptive and discerning, always keeping our eyes and ears open for God’s promptings and His warnings about possible dangers from the enemy’s camp.

As sons and daughters of God, we have to live vigilantly. Apathy and complacency are enemies of the kingdom and detrimental to our spiritual wellbeing. It’s critical that we don’t let them set in and cause us to become dull.

Jesus rebuked His disciples for being dull!

Matthew 15:16 (NIV) 16 “Are you still so dull?” Jesus asked them.

It’s safe to say that if Jesus rebuked His disciples, then He would also rebuke us for being dull.

Let’s take some time today and repent for our apathy and complacency in our spiritual walk. And then let’s do something about it, by spending time in His word and time talking with our heavenly Father each day.

Even just a little time each day can make a huge difference in our walk with Him. And it can make a huge difference in our day to day lives as well.

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

Seven Seas Ministries
P.O. Box 272
Bradford, RI 02808

401-315-0902

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Bible Verse of The Day – 9-22-18

1 Peter 5:8 (NKJV) 8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

We have an enemy. And he has one purpose; to destroy us.

That may sound morbid, scary, frightening, or a large number of any other less-than-positive adjectives. But it’s the truth.

We are engaged in spiritual warfare each and every day, whether we realize it or not. Beyond what we can see with our eyes, there is a world of activity that we can’t see, where war is being waged for the souls of man.

It is for this reason that we must be sober and vigilant, to be able to discern and fend off the attacks that come against us in the spiritual realm.

It’s important to note that being sober isn’t just referring to refraining from being drunk. Self-controlled and alert might be good alternative words to use. We must be able to make sound judgments and be able to discern those things coming against us.

Doing so will allow us to fight them effectively and ward off their attacks victoriously.

Being alert and able to defend ourselves in advance is always better than having to pick up the pieces from an attack that we aren’t prepared for.

As we spend time in God’s word and let it become a part of us, we will find ourselves being more vigilant and alert every day, being armed with the knowledge and understanding that God imparts into us through His word.

And as we press into Him, spending time learning of Him and growing in our relationship with Him, we will become stronger and more confident in who God is in us.

We will become strong, vigilant and courageous children of God.

Joshua 1:9 (NLT) 9 This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

Seven Seas Ministries
P.O. Box 272
Bradford, RI 02808

401-315-0902

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Bible Verse of The Day – 4-2-15

1 Peter 5:8 (NKJV) 8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

To be sober means to have or show a very serious attitude or quality. To be Vigilant means to carefully notice problems or signs of danger.

The Holy Spirit, our Helper, will keep us alert and on our toes. He knows ahead of time what the enemy is up to and He will keep us ahead of what the devil may be trying to do against us.

We have to be paying attention.

When Jesus was born, the enemy was after Him right from the beginning. God would warn Joseph, his father, through dreams as to where to go and what to avoid etc.

Matthew 2:12 (NKJV) Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.

The Holy Spirit will guide us and show us the steps to take to avoid the devil. He will get us through every battle that tries to come against us, and we will win. Amen.

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

Seven Seas Ministries
P.O. Box 272
Bradford, RI 02808

401-315-0902

If you know someone who will enjoy this or be encouraged by it, please feel free to share it with them!

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