Lord’s Day, Vol. 11 No. 11
Be Sober
Romans 6:6 (KJV) Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
The word “sober” does not simply means to be free from alcoholic intoxication but to be free from the abuse of it that leads to intoxication. This word means to be sober-minded or serious-minded, watchful and circumspect in guarding your spiritual life (1 Peter 1:13-16; 4:7; 5:8-11) from the flesh, Satan and the world.
When we put our faith in Christ, repenting of our sins, our old man that is crucified with Christ, nailed to the cross. As Christ rose from the dead three days later, we will live because He lives. Christ has defeated sin on our behalf. We have become God’s freemen. Freed from the bondage of sin and we have the strength by the grace of God not to serve sin! Let our life henceforth be lived in holiness to His praise and honour.
The watchword, therefore, is “be sober” – 1 Peter 1:13-16 (KJV) Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
Robert Leighton said well, “The great error of man’s mind, and the cause of all his errors of life is the diverting of the soul from God, and turning downward to inferior confidences and comforts; and this mischoice is the very root of all our miseries: therefore the main end of the Holy Word of God, is to untie the hearts of men from the world, and reduce them to God as their only rest and solid comfort.”
This process begins in the renewing of the mind by God’s Holy Word – gird up the loins of your mind. An analogy of binding up excess garments up on the belt so that the legs are free for swift movements is applied here to the mind – Psalm 119:11 (KJV) Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. Also, Psalm 37:31 (KJV) The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.
Let us make time and take time in the meditation of God’s Word. Let the word of God dwell richly in our hearts. In doing so, we equip our hearts and minds to detect spiritual dangers and pitfalls.
The threefold duty is recommended sobriety, watchfulness and prayer. [Leighton] This was our Lord’s advice for His disciples in the day leading to His crucifixion. The Apostle Peter learned well – Matthew 26:41 (KJV) Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
Through prayer, we are strengthened in the inner man to stand steadfast in the Lord to resist every temptation – 1 Peter 5:7 (KJV) Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
When we cast our care upon Him in the time of testing, we find in Him our wisdom and strength to resist every temptation – Psalm 32:7 (KJV) Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.
Our Lord taught us to pray – Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil (Matthew 6:13a). Our Lord is at the right hand of the Father in heaven interceding and protecting us and receiving our prayers.
Truly, as we survey the scene in the world, notice Satan is all fired up to come in great wrath against the saints because he knows he has a little time left – 1 Peter 4:7 (KJV) But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.
The saints of God are to realize the ferocious nature of the evil one seeking to trap and devour us – 1 Peter 5:8-11 (KJV) Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
Our Lord Himself suffered severe persecution even unto death and He said to His disciples in John 15:18 (KJV) If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.
Ryle said well, “Facts, painful facts in every age, supply abundant proof that our Lord’s warning is not without cause. Persecution was the lot of the apostles and their companions wherever they went.”
The Apostle Peter understood well the need to be sober and watchful unto prayer. He denied the Lord thrice. When he was tempted, he fell. Our Lord warned him in John 13:38 (KJV) Jesus answered him, Wilt thou lay down thy life for my sake? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, The cock shall not crow, till thou hast denied me thrice.
Matthew 26:75 (KJV) And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.
Ryle observed well the battle before us is more fiercely within us as the Apostle Peter learned, “The seeds of every sin are latent in our hearts, even when renewed, and they only need occasion, or carelessness, … to put forth an abundant crop. A humble sense of our own innate weakness, a constant dependence on the Strong One for strength, a daily prayer to be held up, because we cannot hold ourselves, these are the true secrets of safety. The great apostle of the Gentiles said, “When I am weak, then am I strong.” (1 Corinthians 12:10).” Therefore, let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall (1 Corinthians 10:12).
The Apostle Paul likewise exhorts the church in such a time as this – 1 Thessalonians 5:6-8 (KJV) Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.
The way by which the believer live an overcoming life is to take time to meditate upon the Word of God and yield ourselves to Him that the Holy Spirit’s fruit may be made manifest in our lives. Amen.
Yours lovingly,
Pastor Lek Aik Wee