VIGILANCE

While in prayer and personal study of the Holy Word of GOD, the Holy Spirit kept urging me to teach on the subject of Vigilance. Being vigil in these last days and not succumbing to the attacks of our enemy. These attacks that the Holy Spirit is speaking of are not physical in nature but spiritual, taking control of the minds of those closest to you. With you being dragged into an argument with no way out, without hurting a loved ones feelings and exposing the real truth. Our enemy lies and will whisper in the ears of those that are vulnerable to cause strife and conflict. Be vigil, be strengthened in prayer spending time with GOD before you start your day and putting on the Breastplate of Faith and Love along with the Helmet of Salvation.

We all live in a time in which evil is being professed as good and good is being condemned as evil. The world is once again embracing those things which are not pleasant in the eyes of GOD and the judgement of righteousness in on the horizon. Prophesies of the Bible are virtually being fulfilled everyday even with those signs that the world is starting to take notice with a blind eye. They see those signs but do not comprehend the significance of what these signs and wonders represent because the love of evil is in their hearts and not the love for GOD. Be vigil, Jesus Christ is coming soon, and anyone that has not given their life to Him and asked for forgiveness will face the true nature of this world without the protection of the Holy Spirit.

Paul the Apostle wrote in 1 Thessalonians 5: 

“But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.” (vs 1-3)

This passage of scripture is not speaking of when the world cries out peace and safety as spoken of the prophets of the Old Testament. It is speaking of our day and age, when families are starting to come back together and becoming close, peace and safety is being embraced as family units, then without rhyme or reason, sudden destruction comes upon them. It starts with a small disagreement that fester’s and boils in the minds with the enemy speaking lies of discontent and judgement in their ears. Those that are not vigilant to the ways of the enemy will react. We have news reports almost on a hourly basis of the efforts of the enemies and the destruction that comes with listening to those lies where there is no escape. Some families are decimated and broken asunder by that actions of those family members that gave into the lies and funeral homes prepared a place to say final goodbyes for those that did not adorn the Breastplate of Faith and Love. 

Paul the Apostle continues:

“But ye, brethren, are not in darkness that, that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. 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.” (vs 4-8)

Those of us that have given our lives to Jesus Christ to be our Lord and Savior, Paul the Apostle calls us brethren, reminding us that, that day should not over take us as a thief stealing our peace and security. We need to stand vigilant and the way we do this is to on our knees in prayer. I know this sounds strange to those that do not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ that asks, “How can you stand vigilant if you are on your knees?” This is what confounds those in the world that do not know that the greatest victories in life are not fought guns and bullets, but through the actions of prayer warriors that seek the Lord and know that when they pray, mountains tremble and the enemies flee while on their knees.

Again, speaking to those that call GOD, Father, you all are children of light and children of the day, those that are without the faith that Jesus Christ as their Savior and LORD of their life, are children of darkness.  They seek darkness running to the bars and alley ways seeking to become drunk or to get stoned in order to become oblivious to their reality of this harsh life, not living in the presence of the Most High. They are seeking that high life that in turn leads them into captivity. While alcohol has been problematic, tearing families apart and destroying their lives, the enemy is not satisfied, so the enemy of GOD and the enemy of the human race created Meth, Heroin, and flesh-eating drugs that the users kill, steal, and destroy to get their next fix.

We are instructed by Paul the Apostle not to be like others, he says, “Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.” Remember, we are children of the light and we are to be sober as to not fall into the snares of the devil. Being sober we are less likely to be brought into the conflict but we are to seek resolution for the spiritual attacks of the enemy. We are not to let our guard down in times of peace and safety, for we are warned sudden destruction comes in those times without notice. By putting on the Breast Plate of Faith and Love along with the Helmet of Salvation, we are able to stand with the assurance that our LORD is fighting and winning those battles in the spiritual, allowing us to lead the captives to freedom and eternal salvation. 

Paul the Apostle reminds us: 

“For GOD hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.” (vs 9-11)

Paul the Apostle reminds us that GOD has not appointed us wrath (physical or verbal) violence, but to obtain our salvation by the LORD Jesus Christ. This salvation is not only to those that are awake when you are awake, but also unto those that sleep not dead, simply because, it is impossible for us to live together with Him if this is speaking of those that are dead. Jesus Christ died us whether we are awake or asleep in which through our natural course of the day we all sleep at least once a day. We are to comfort one another lifting each other up as we do unto ourselves. If a brother or sister in the Lord is experiencing a hardship and the effects of the hardship has the worried or depressed, it is up to us to edify the good qualities in their lives, pray for them, feed them, and even clothe them if necessary. 

Paul the Apostle supports:

“And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be at peace among yourselves. Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feeble-minded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men. Rejoice evermore.” (vs 12-16)

Again, Paul the Apostle is speaking to the brethren that are brothers and sisters in the LORD, he says to take notice which labor for the kingdom of GOD among you. Some of those in which Paul is speaking of includes those you call Deacon, Elder, Minister, Pastor in which are on the front lines standing on their faith showing love and understanding while showing you enough respect to admonish you to lead you in the ways of the LORD. According to the Dictionary admonish means: to caution, advise, or counsel against something. This is exactly what these leaders of the body of Christ are placed in those position are for, to lead you unto the glory of eternal life with Jesus Christ. Please remember the life of a leader in the body of Christ is a lonely, taxing position that takes a certain type of person that is obedience unto the LORD, Paul say to lift them up in love.

In this society that we live in, in today’s world, it is all about what you can do for me, not what can I do for you. But in the body of Christ, it is contrary to what the world expects. We as Christian are told to love them that hate us and to be at peace among ourselves, showing the highest esteem in love for those that help us for the work of the kingdom. Be kind one onto another but in love warn them that are unruly, comfort the feeble-minded, support the weak and be patient toward all.

Especially in this society that we are part of, most find the next verse the hardest do deal with even Christians that have been beat down by those around them. When faced with a crisis, Paul says to see that none render evil for evil unto any man. This means if someone is vulgar and rude using foul language we as Christians are not to do the same, rendering evil for evil. What Christians should do is take the higher ground and be patient following that which is good among yourselves and to all men. When that higher ground reveals itself under your feet, rejoice that GOD has delivered you from the situation, rejoice evermore. 

Paul the Apostle advises:

“Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks : for this is the Will of GOD in Christ Jesus concerning you. Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesying’s. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil. And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray GOD your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is He that calleth you, who also will do it.” (vs 17-24)

Paul the Apostle was not telling you to do something that most consider impossible when he said pray without ceasing. Those of use that do pray on a regular basis long before most wake up to start their day, actually can found praying most of the time. Allow your prayer to continue on all day, in all you do, others that know you will take notice that your speaking differently, the way you address them will be different and the way you handle situation will also be different. This is not to for your glory but for the glory of the One you proclaim to be your LORD. In everything give thanks not just when your car starts in the morning or when you are eating a meal, give thanks from the time your feet touch the floor until the time you lay your head on the pillow. In living your life in prayer without ceasing and giving GOD the thanks He deserves you will be doing the Will of GOD honoring Jesus Christ for honoring our Father.

Quench not the Holy Spirit, listen to what He is saying and do what He is leading you to do. It is so very easy to not only quench the Holy Spirit in your life but when you verbally attack another with that same Spirit, you could actually quench what the Holy Spirit is attempting to do in their life. No one is as perfect as you expect them to be especially, you. Passing judgement even if it is justified with words of hatred quenches the Holy Spirit in that person in which some never recover but actually get worse than before they first gave their life to the LORD. Despise no one but love each one that the LORD puts in your life, pray for them that have a hardened heart, and refrain from speaking lies and half-truths, for half-truths are nothing but the truth being made into a lie.

Do not despise those that prophecy into another persons life, allow prophecy to be spoken into your life testing the Spirits proving all things are of GOD and hold fast that which is good. Keep your life clean and upright running away from all appearance of evil. Do not invite evil into your life or even the appearance of evil. I can remember years ago, a man of GOD professing all the good that LORD put in his life, even though he thought he was living the way GOD wanted him to he only liked to watch scary movies. His reasoning for this was to learn how the enemy worked, he said he enjoyed scary movies and then shortly after he gave his explanation he was no longer doing the Will of GOD, he left his wife and started drinking and doing drugs, those things in which he held so highly came upon him, changed him. I know people will say, “It takes a weak-minded individuals to be changed by movies and the appearance of evil, that will not happen to me.” Consider this, maybe the reason it will not happen to you, is that you are already exactly the way the devil wants you to be and the appearance of evil is welcomed in your life.

Pray without ceasing and be vigilant unto the whiles of the devil, those little seemingly innocent devices the devil will use to distract you from doing what GOD wants you to do. Pray that the GOD of peace sanctifies you in all you do unto the appearing of our LORD Jesus Christ. Faithful is He that has called you to unto eternal Salvation, when asking anything in His name He will do it to honor His Father. Pray always in all you do.

Paul the Apostle asks:

“Brethren, pray for us. Greet all the brethren with an holy kiss. I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.” (vs 25-28)

Brothers and Sisters, brethren, pray for us, pray for those that the LORD has placed in your life to lead you to His Glory. Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss, in our culture here in the United States a holy kiss would not be well accepted, so greeting one another with a holy handshake followed by a holy hug with those that are comfortable doing that would be more acceptable. Paul gives charge to you by the LORD that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren as a witness unto the Will of GOD. 

It is our prayer that the Grace of our LORD Jesus Christ with you. Amen.

Seeking the face of GOD
His Always
Darrin Sparks
Touching Heaven Ministries