BE SOBER

1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

When the Bible says “BE SOBER” it does not always refer to alcohol though sometimes it does. It is primarily referring to the thinking process. Of course we know, alcohol inhibits the thinking process. Under the influence of alcohol people do things they should not do, say things they should not say, lose inhibitions, lose the ability to walk straight, talk straight, think straight, ad nauseum. So why does the New Testament tell us to be sober?

 

I. BE SOBER BECAUSE THE DEVIL IS AFTER YOU [1 Pt. 5:8]

1. You Have a Personal Adversary [Luke 8:12, Eph. 6:11]

-Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.

-Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

2. You Have a Powerful Adversary [Jude 1:9, 2 Timothy 2:26]

-Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.

- And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

3. You Have a Predatory Adversary [Acts 10:38, Jn. 8:44]

-How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

- Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

 

II. BE SOBER BECAUSE THE SAVIOUR IS COMING [1 Th. 5:1-11]

1. No One Knows When He is Coming [v. 1-3]

2. But We Know HE IS COMING [v. 4-5]

3. We Can Be Ready When He Comes [v. 6-11]

 

III. BE SOBER BECAUSE CHRIST’S COMING CHANGES EVERYTHING

1. If Saved, Live Like It! [1 Pet. 1:13-19]

- Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear: Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

2. Both Saved and Lost Will Give Account [1 Pt. 4:2-7]

That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you: Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead. For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit. But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.

3. If Lost, Turn to God and Receive Christ [2 Cor. 4:3-7]

But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus sake. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.