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The meaning of “Be watchful” is to be observant, careful, vigilant, and prudent. We are to be watchful because the devil is seeking for every opportunity to destroy lives.
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
(1 Peter 5:8)
We are to be careful with our thoughts, words, and actions.
The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness. The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good. A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.
(Proverbs 15:2-4)
Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
(Ephesians 4:29)
Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.
(Psalms 119:133)
Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.
(Psalms 19:13)
To the chief Musician, even to Jeduthun, A Psalm of David. I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me.
(Psalms 39:1)
We are to be prudent.
A fool’s wrath is presently known: but a prudent man covereth shame.
(Proverbs 12:16)
Every prudent man dealeth with knowledge: but a fool layeth open his folly.
(Proverbs 13:16)
The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going.
(Proverbs 14:15)
WATCH AND PRAY THAT YE ENTER NOT INTO TEMPTATION
Satan appeals to our flesh and our minds
Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
(Matthew 26:41)
Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak.
(Mark 14:38)
We wrestle against the devil and spiritual wickedness
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
(Ephesians 6:12)
Lust of the flesh, eyes, and pride is not of the Father.
Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.(1 John 2:15-17)
Satan tempts in times of afflictions.
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.
(1 Peter 5:8-9)
Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.
(Psalms 34:19)
WATCH AND PRAY FOR YE KNOW NOT WHEN THE TIME IS
Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.
(Mark 13:33)
Pray always
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.
(Luke 21:36)
Have fervent charity among yourselves
But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.
(1 Peter 4:7-8)
Watch with all perseverance and supplication for all saints
Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
(Ephesians 6:18)
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Our grateful attitude is the key to victorious prayer.
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
(Philippians 4:6)
Being thankful is a demonstration of our faith that there is no need to worry because…
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
(Romans 8:28)
A prayer of faith is pleasing to the Lord and is effective.
But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
(James 1:6)
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
(Hebrews 11:6)
Thanking God is believing that God has a purpose for every circumstance
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
(1 Thessalonians 5:18)
A thankful and praising attitude is a sign of maturity.
A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken. The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge: but the mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness. All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast.
(Proverbs 15:13-15)
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James 2:17 says, “Faith without works is dead”. What is dead? The answer is ‘faith”. Dead faith is without works while living faith has works. Dead faith does not produce good works while living faith produces good works. What is meant by a dead faith? A dead faith is a functionless faith and a worthless faith. It is faith without understanding, without real conviction, without sorrow of sins, without repentance, without direction, without basis, without emotion, without love, without willingness, without real trust in Christ, and it is a mere intellectual belief. It is a false trust or false acceptance of Jesus. False trust does not produce works but true faith results in good works. A further analysis of the verse reveals that:
James 2:26 says, “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also”. A dead body does not move to have the spirit. A living body moves because it has a spirit. A spiritually dead sinner cannot work to have the Holy Spirit, rather a person works and serve God because he has the Holy Spirit. (Romans 8: 9,14). If a sinner cannot work to have the Holy Spirit, how can he receive the Holy Spirit? The answer is by hearing the gospel and trusting Jesus as Savior and Lord, Acts 10:43-44; Eph.1:13. Intellectual or mere belief will not result to doing good works but a person who sincerely believes and trust in Jesus will prove it by his good works. Merely believing in the existence of God and the historical event that Christ died for man’s sins will not result to salvation. James 2:19 says, “…the devil also believe and tremble”. Many people have faith like that of the demon and think that they will go to heaven. To be sure that you are saved first, you must have truly repented of your sins and trusted Jesus as Savior (Jn.1:12; Luke 13:3). Second, you must have the conviction of the Holy Spirit and the assurance from God’s word (Rom.8:17; I John 5:11-13). Third, you prove it by living a “changed life” (II Cor.5:17; I John 2:3-4). James 2;18 says, “I will show thee my faith by my works”.
By E. J.
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