Be Alert. Be Watchful. Be on Guard.
This post contains mostly scripture references concerning being watchful. I have heard many times that we should be looking for signs of the return of Christ. Personally, I do not feel we should expend a lot of energy looking for signs that Jesus is about to return, or to project as prophecy that Jesus ma return on this date or that date. We are not told to watch for the day of His return but to be ready. In addition to that, there are many other things we ARE to be alert, watchful, and on guard about and the following scriptures verses gives us a solid view of what we are to be concerned about and how we should respond. Our attention and focus should be on the Kingdom and continuing making disciples of all nations until He does return. I hope this can be useful to those who are teaching Sunday school, or who have small study groups.
Job 36:21 (AMP) “Take heed and be careful, do not turn to wickedness, For you have chosen this [the vice of complaining against God] rather than [learning from] affliction.”
Matthew 7:15 (AMP) “Beware of the false prophets, [teachers] who come to you dressed as sheep [appearing gentle and innocent], but inwardly are ravenous wolves.”
Matthew 24:42 (AMP) “So be alert [give strict attention, be cautious and active in faith], for you do not know which day [whether near or far] your Lord is coming.”
Matthew 25:13 (AMP) “Therefore, be on the alert [be prepared and ready], for you do not know the day nor the hour [when the Son of Man will come].”
Matthew 26:41 (AMP) “Keep actively watching and praying that you may not come into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”
Mark 13:35-36 (AMP) “Therefore, be continually on the alert–for you do not know when the master of the house is coming, whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning— [stay alert] in case he should come suddenly and unexpectedly and find you asleep and unprepared. ”
Luke 21:34-35 (AMP) “But be on guard, so that your hearts are not weighed down and depressed with the giddiness of debauchery and the nausea of self-indulgence and the worldly worries of life, and then that day [when the Messiah returns] will not come on you suddenly like a trap; for it will come upon all those who live on the face of all the earth.”
Acts 20:28 (AMP) “Take care and be on guard for yourselves and for the whole flock over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as overseers, to shepherd (tend, feed, guide) the church of God which He bought with His own blood.”
1 Corinthians 16:13-14 (AMP) “Be on guard; stand firm in your faith [in God, respecting His precepts and keeping your doctrine sound]. Act like [mature] men and be courageous; be strong. Let everything you do be done in love [motivated and inspired by God’s love for us].”
Ephesians 6:18 (AMP) “With all prayer and petition pray [with specific requests] at all times [on every occasion and in every season] in the Spirit, and with this in view, stay alert with all perseverance and petition [interceding in prayer] for all God’s people.“
1 Thessalonians 5:6 (AMP “So then let us not sleep [in spiritual indifference] as the rest [of the world does], but let us keep wide awake [alert and cautious] and let us be sober [self-controlled, calm, and wise].”
Philippians 3:2-3 (AMP) “Look out for the dogs [the Judaizers, the legalists], look out for the troublemakers, look out for the false circumcision [those who claim circumcision is necessary for salvation]; for we [who are born-again have been reborn from above–spiritually transformed, renewed, set apart for His purpose and] are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory and take pride and exult in Christ Jesus and place no confidence [in what we have or who we are] in the flesh”
1 Timothy 4:16 (AMP) “Pay close attention to yourself [concentrate on your personal development] and to your teaching; persevere in these things [hold to them], for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.”
2 Timothy 4:15 (AMP) “Be on guard against him yourself, because he vigorously opposed our message.”
1 Peter 5:8 (AMP) “Be sober [well balanced and self-disciplined], be alert and cautious at all times. That enemy of yours, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion [fiercely hungry], seeking someone to devour.”
2 Peter 3:17-18 (AMP) “Therefore, [let me warn you] beloved, knowing these things beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men [who distort doctrine] and fall from your own steadfastness [of mind, knowledge, truth, and faith], but grow [spiritually mature] in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory (honor, majesty, splendor), both now and to the day of eternity; Amen.”
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