“Be sober [well balanced and self-disciplined], be alert and cautious at all times. That enemy of yours, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion [fiercely hungry], seeking someone to devour.” – 1 Peter 5:8
Beloved in the nighty name of Jesus, Satan the old serpent and the deceiver of the whole world shall not be able to deceive or devour you in particular in Jesus name. This is the reason why you must be determinedly watchful.
Certainly he will come to you with his tireless subtility but as he failed tempting our Lord, he will surely fail concerning you too. But then, you must conscientiously heed this particular warning tirelessly. The reason while multitude inside and outside of the church globally have fallen victim is the fact that, they failed to heed below warning jealously.
1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
Beloved the devil has innumerable devices. Remember he has been around for six thousand years now on this side of heaven (Rev 12:9-12). The singular reason why himself and his cohorts are now, tirelessly ensnaring the worldlings and carefree churchgoers is because their time is running out fast. So you can not afford not to be more careful and more watchful. See, with his subtility he got Eve and Adam. If he could get them, then he could get any other person who lacks God’s grace and is self confident (Gen 3:1-6). Adam by falling victim of the devil suffered colossal loss. Multitude globally did not just lost valuable treasures on this side of heaven. They lost eternally too. That shall not be your portion in Jesus mighty name. So be tirelessly watchful (Gen 3:23-24).
Dearly Beloved do you know why our Lord sounded urgent warnings to His followers of all ages and you in particular? It was because of the effrontery of the devil. That dog of hell was very daring. He tempted his creator. It was true that our, Lord was triumphant but out of His love and compassion for you, He perceived you might yielded to his subtility. So to help you avert it, He sounded this urgent warnings.
Mark 13:37 And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.
Luke 21:34-36 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
Why do you need to watch? The devil has deadly destructive ambition against you in particular (John 10:10, 1 Peter 5:8). As you go to memory lane and recount the devastating misfortunes of the likes of apostle Judas, Ananias, and Sapphira, Demas, Lot’s wife etc. Then you will give appropriate attention to the exhortations below.
Romans 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
1 Corinthians 10:11-12 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
Dearly beloved see their avoidable and shameful fall into the hands of the devil. You shall not fall in Jesus name. Judas was hanged and damned (Matthew 27:3-5). Ananias, and Sapphira both died inside the church as liars and went to hell (Act 5:1-11). Demas, a colabourer with Paul, loved the world and was lost (2 Timothy 4:10). Lot’s wife looked back and damned (Genesis 19:26).
See because of the importance of this issue, the blessed Holy Spirit gives you these warnings too, to help you overcome the devil and his cohorts. You shall surely overcome in Jesus mighty name.
Ephesians 4:27 Neither give place to the devil.
James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Friend, God shall help you in particular to be part of the dawning rapture in Jesus mighty name. But be not self confident. Please humbly heed this all important warning of the Lord. This becomes necessary because majority of the so called believers, expecting the coming of the Lord, like the foolish virgins have fallen victims of the devices of satan. It is true that they are still churchy and perhaps rendering services for the Lord, but they have names that they are alive physically but dead spiritually.
Revelation 3:1-2 And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.
In addition, they are secretly compromising. So they are neither cold not hot . It is a pity they are lukewarm (Revelation 3:15-18). Friends, for you to avoid all these and be ready when our Lord comes, heed this exhortation tirelessly and determinedly. Give your self totally to obeying the entirety of the scriptures and avoid anyone and everyone and anything and everything that can make you fall. You shall not fall in Jesus name.
article by Bishop Peter Olusegun Babalola.
