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Be Sober
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Being passive is often pictured in
the word of God as being drunk and/or asleep. Passivity
is like lying down, self-absorbed and unaware,
obliviously missing out on the good that could be, while
your enemy walks over you, destroying you. God calls us
to reject passivity and instead to be sober.
...We are not of night or of
darkness; so then let us not sleep as others do, but
let us be alert and sober. For those who
sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get
drunk get drunk at night. But since we are of the
day, let us be sober, having put on the
breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the
hope of salvation. For God has not destined us
for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our
Lord Jesus Christ (I Thessalonians 5:5-9 NAS,
Italics added).
The Greek word for sober
(Strong= s
#3525--Nepho) means to be free from the influence
of intoxicants. It is used in the New Testament in
association with and implying alertness and
watchfulness. As in the above verses, we are to put away
the intoxicants of drunkenness (which would include
drugs) and moral sleepiness, and apply ourselves to
faith, love, and hope.
When directing us to put away the
intoxicants of the Aformer
lusts@ (which
include sexual immorality), Peter says,
ATherefore,
gird your minds for action, keep sober in
spirit...be holy...in all your behavior@
(I Peter 1:13-16 NAS). To those Corinthians who were in
a Astupor
consequent upon the influence of evil doctrine@
(Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words),
Paul says, AAwake
(Strong's #1594B
Eknepho, a related word, meaning to return to one=s
sense from drunkenness) to righteousness, and sin not,
for some have no knowledge of God" (I Corinthians
15:34). And to Timothy, who encountered resistance
from Aevil men
and imposters@
(II Timothy 3:13) and was in danger of withdrawing
through weariness, Paul said,
ABe sober
in all things, endure hardship (affliction), do the work
of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry" (4:5 NAS).
If we will not be soberminded, we
will be controlled and destroyed by the Devil. Therefore
Paul says of those who are in opposition to sound
doctrine, that they are held captive by the devil to do
his will. But through repentance leading to the
knowledge of the truth,
Athey may
come to their senses and escape (Strong's #366B
Ananepho, another related word meaning to return to
soberness) from the snare of the devil@
(II Timothy 2:25-26). And Peter says,
A Be of
sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the
devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone
to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing
that the same experiences of suffering are being
accomplished by your brethren who are in the world@
(I Peter 5:8-9 NAS).
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