The word on my heart today is "sober".
Being under the influence of alcohol or drugs is just the tip of the iceberg. If you are a Christian and you are living under the influence of drugs and alcohol you need to be delivered from evil spirits. You need deliverance. However, that is not what I'm focused on here in this article.
What I'm talking about is a lifestyle of being spiritually awake and alert. I want to focus on cultivating an attitude of discernment in your environment that only comes when we get serious with God.
The importance of a sober mind for the Christian has always been important but is becoming exponentially more important to survive spiritually in this current season of the world system.
There is a real danger for Christians who do not exercise a sober mind and attitude. We are in danger when we are not temperate and self-controlled. We are easy prey when we do not watch and pray and practice a sober mindset and lifestyle.
When I talk about being sober I don't mean to live in an anxious state of mind. The spiritually sober attitude I'm trying to describe is not looking over your shoulder all the time, or being paranoid. I'm not trying to take away the joy of the Lord in your life or trying to make anyone afraid or fearful.
I'm trying to exhort and encourage us to adapt a watchful, alert attitude that can perceive the spiritual reality that is around us, and also the spiritual condition we are living in.
A sober mindset or attitude is characterized by self-control, seriousness, and sound moral judgment. It means that you are in your right mind. 2 Timothy 1:7, "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."
Soberness is required in spiritual warfare. 1 Thessalonians 5:6-8, "Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. 7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. 8 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."
When the Bible mentions putting on armor I immediately think of spiritual warfare. Being awake and sober is a key to overcoming the powers of darkness. We have to be serious minded. We have to practice self control. We need self discipline.
Soberness is an attitude produced by God's grace in the believer. This is a lifestyle of being alert and watchful. This is not just scanning news headlines for what is happening out in the world. It is scanning our own life for any compromise, backsliding, or darkness creeping up on us.
Titus 2:11-13, "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;"
Meditate on these words: "soberly", "righteously", and "godly". This is painting a picture for us of how we are to live every day. This is a life that is controlled by the grace of God. This is a person who has been instructed by the grace of God.
We are taught to take control of our mind and focus on what is true and eternal.
1 Peter 1:13, "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;"
The sober mind is needed because we are at the end of all things. In order to survive spiritually we have to be sober.
1 Peter 4:7, "But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer." This verse ties in a sober mindset with the discipline of watching and praying.
The sober mind is needed because we have to be alert to the enemy. 1 Peter 5:8-9, "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9, Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world."
Why do we need to be sober and alert to the possibility of the enemy? Because God expects us to use the armor and weapons he gave us to resist the devil and to overcome the power of darkness. How can you resist the devil if you are not even sober enough to realize that you are being attacked by demons?
Do you realize it is your responsibility to put the enemy under your feet and out of your life? Jesus has done the work through this death, burial and resurrection. You now have to personally walk in the victory he provided for you.
Think about how Jesus died for every person and that every person can be saved if they personally believe the gospel. In the same way, unless we personally take up spiritual weapons against the enemy we cannot benefit from the victory Jesus won for us. And I promise you this: if you are not sober and awake you will not take up the spiritual weapons. You will explain your problems away by some natural explanation.
Let me say this again but in another way: you have no idea how much harm is being done in your life by the enemy. Why? Because you are not awake to spiritual reality. You are not sober minded. You are asleep, like the world. Wake up!!
Romans 13:11-14, "And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. 12, The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. 13, Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. 14, But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof."
Christ died for our sins, he was buried, and he rose again on the third day, according to the scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). Whosoever will call upon the name of the LORD will be saved. (Romans 10:9-13).
Mike Kines
July 26, 2025