Watch and Be Sober

We must occupy until He comes. We must be diligent and
provide well for our households -- and in all things do
our best as unto Him. But, above all else, we must be
sober and watchful. The word "sober" here means
"discreet, discerning, cautious." In other words, don't
let anything take your heart. Be watchful that you do
not get too involved, too excited, or too wrapped up in
things of this life. "Be sober, be vigilant; because
your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh
about, seeking whom he may devour: whom resist
steadfast in the faith ..." (1 Peter 5:8-9).

Watch out! Be warned! You may right now be drinking the
devil's wine of distraction -- the wine of busyness.
The Bible warns that Satan will attempt to deceive, if
it were possible, even the elect. I have often wondered
how that could be possible. Not by adultery,
fornication, pride, evil habits -- but by letting
something worthwhile take the heart -- by using what is
legitimate to obsess the heart and consume all one's
time.
This is not a time to be settling down to a life of
ease. This is not a time to be at ease in Zion. We must
live in a stirred-up state. "And it shall come to pass
at that time [before judgment] that I will search
Jerusalem with candles, and punish the men that are
settled on their lees: that say in their heart, The
Lord will not do good, neither will He do evil"
(Zephaniah 1:12). "Settled on their lees" means
unconcerned. "Lees" are sediment of wine settled at the
bottom of the barrel.
The trumpet of God is blowing -- loudly and clearly. We
are without excuse, and we will soon be startled by the
swift, ominous outbreaks of terror, disasters, and
troubles -- worldwide.
Those who know the Lord and are walking in His righteousness will not be afraid.
They will be on the front-lines of the spiritual battlefield
-- overcoming all the principalities and powers of
darkness through intercessory prayer.
Read the rest of this article by David Wilkerson HERE.




I recently watched a short documentary on the sad events of the December 26, 2004, tsunami that hit Indonesia and caused almost a quarter of a million deaths. It is well known as the Boxing Day Tsunami. The video showed the Tsunami spreading to different regions, hitting the shores of heavily populated areas. What struck me was the complacency of the people in the different areas, even the amusement of it all. At one beach they see a white crescent on the distant horizon spreading across the entire large bay. People watch mesmerized as this white crescent comes nearer and nearer. When the wave swallows up two ships in the bay some of the watchers realize the magnitude of the event that is about to strike but for most it is too late. In another shoreline people smile and laugh in amusement as the entire bay is emptied of water and ships are beached. It begins as a spectacle that is full of fun and amusement as people take pictures. As the water came back in they considered it something fun to watch. When the wave struck that shoreline, many were caught unawares; their running was in vain and multitudes were screaming as they were swallowed in the waves and dragged back out to sea, never to return. As I watched the video a great sobriety came over me— not just over the deaths of so many people— of what is about to come upon the Christians of the world, with some of us not being aware of the times we are living in. Many of us do not believe this could be the end of time. Just as the tsunami came without warning, so will the end times persecution come upon many Christians unawares. I am not arguing for any type of position of the rapture of the church, whether pre or post, in this short article. Yet I believe firmly that we will all feel like we are in the great tribulation when this end time persecution wave hits the Church. The birth pains will become worse and worse, and many of those that have believed in a pre-tribulation rapture that would have them escape from all suffering will be 100% unprepared for what is going to come upon them. Persecution of Christians has not diminished, but has been increasing yearly world wide. More Christians were martyred in the twentieth century than in all previous centuries combined.
Quoted from the book Principles for the Gathering of Believers Under the Headship of Jesus Christ, which is FREE on Kindle.