Isaiah 62:6-7, “I have watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day or night: ye that make mention of the Lord, keep not silence, And give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth.”

1 Peter 5:8, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walket about, seeking whom he may devour;”

The struggle is real! And we as believers must always pay attention to what is going on around us; to what is happening in our lives. If/when we lose focus or allow ourselves to be distracted by the activities of life, we are making room for the enemy to come in undercover to wreak havoc in our lives. We begin to forget who we are in Christ and will take on the attitude of the world – bad things happen to good people – and will just allow things to go on unchecked. Things that are contrary to God’s will for our lives. This is spiritual delusion. 

I always talk about the responsibility of the believer, but there is also an accountability factor to consider. We must hold ourselvesaccountable to stand on the word of God – at all times. We must be sober and vigilant because our enemy is always about his business. He never takes a vacation. We must show the same determination to protect ourselves and our loved one.

Let’s take a deeper look at these scriptures:

Isaiah 62:6-7 (also see Ezekiel 33:1-9, Habakkuk 2:1).

Purpose:  To guard, look for danger, and pray for God’s purposes to be fulfilled.

Call to Action: To be spiritually alert, constantly praying, and not silent.

Other Related Verses are Ezekiel 33:1-9: Describes the duty of a watchman to warn the people. Habakkuk 2:1: The prophet takes his stand at the watch post to receive God’s word. 

These scriptures highlight the role of spiritual leaders and believers to act as guardians in prayer and spiritual warfare. 

1 Peter 5:8

“Be Sober” (Greek: nephate): Refers to being free from intoxication, not just of alcohol, but of anything that dulls spiritual perception, such as distractions or sin. It implies a serious, stable, and self-controlled mindset.

“Be Vigilant “ (Greek: gregoresate): Means to stay awake, watch, and be attentive, like a guard or night watchman. It involves being alert to spiritual dangers and being on guard against temptations.

The command is given because the devil is actively searching for victims to devour. Believers are advised to resist this enemy by standing firm in their faith.

This requires avoiding spiritual complacency, staying close to God through prayer, and recognizing potential dangers in daily life. 

The scripture emphasizes that while spiritual danger is real, believers can stand firm by being alert and maintaining a strong, faithful, and focused life. 

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Now that we understand the importance of living a life on alert – the call to all believers to be watchful and not be deceived by the enemy, let’s clarify some key points.

Life happens – This is so true. We face difficulties, challenges, loss, victories, prosperity and blessings. We are all when the positives happen. However, when the negatives happen, if we are not watching, we can forget who we are and not challenge these things. We just let them happen and act like this is just a part of life. 

It’s the small things – When things seem minor. Small annoyances that don’t seem to greatly impact on our daily lives. However, Song of Solomon 2:15 helps us to see the error in idea. Little foxes represent minor issues – like bitterness, poor communication, or neglecting intimacy—that can cause significant, long-term damage. It is a call to action. The verse calls for proactive, intentional effort to remove these small threats before they ruin the “vineyard” (life or marriage). 

Things happen in the darkness – Matthew 13:24-30, tells the story of the sower who sowed seeds in his garden. But while the sower was sleeping the enemy also sowed weeds among his seeds. Yes, things happen in the darkness – while the believe slept. This cannot be helped. However, we must be in a place to recognize what has happened and take steps to appropriately deal with it. This is spiritual discernment. A necessary spiritual gift that every believer must hone. 

So how do we combat these things?

We must know who we are and have the boldness of David (1 Samuel 17:26, 36). David had the spiritual position to say who is this man to come against the people of God. He trusted in the divine skills and abilities God gave him to defeat the enemy. He knew he could not go into battle with armor (defenses) that were not his. He trusted God and took what he knew God had used in the past to allow him to prevail against his enemy.   

We must exercise the power and authority given to us when the Holy Ghost comes to indwell in us. Acts 1:8, “…But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you…” Also, Luke 10:19. records Jesus giving believers authority to “tread on serpents and scorpions” and overcome all the enemy’s power without being harmed, promising spiritual protection and victory over demonic forces.

We must become a student of the word of God to understand the promises of God. To understand the victory promised to us. For we serve a God who always causes us to triumph (2 Corinthians 2:14). But we cannot triumph in a battle if we refuse to fight! 

We must be defensive workers. Meaning, yes, we must do the work God called us to, but we must also be prepared to always fight the good fight (Nehemiah chapter 4). The rebuilding of Jerusalem’s walls is characterized by a “balanced life” approach where the Israelites worked and prepared for war simultaneously to counter opposition. Nehemiah instructed the workers to be both builders and soldiers, holding a tool in one hand and a weapon in the other to protect their work and families.

 Let’s look at our Power and Authority in Jesus

The dictionary defines:

Power is the ability to do something or act in a particular way, especially as a faculty or quality. The capacity or ability to direct or influence the behavior of others or the course of events.

Authority as the power or right to give orders, make decisions, and enforce obedience.

The Bible defines Power and Authority as:

Power in the Bible represents the divine ability, strength, and authority of God (often dunamis in Greek) to create, liberate, and redeem, rather than just raw force. It is primarily the enabling power of the Holy Spirit, given to believers for witness, endurance, and transformation. 

Key aspects of power in Scripture include:

• Divine Origin: God is the source of all power, which is infinite, sovereign, and used for righteousness.

• Dunamis  (Ability/Might): Often refers to the dynamic, miraculous power of God, particularly the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8, Luke 1:35).

• Exousia  (Authority/Right): Refers to the legal right or delegated authority, such as the authority Jesus gave his disciples to act in his name (Matthew 28:18). 

• Kratos (Strength): Denotes the manifest strength or dominion of God.

• Purpose: Biblical power is not for self-aggrandizement, but for empowering the weak, performing, and witnessing.

• Paradoxical Nature: The Bible highlights a “power in weakness” motif, where God’s strength is made perfect in human weakness (2 Cor. 12:9). 

In the New Testament, power is most profoundly manifested in the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the working of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers. 

 In the Bible, Authority refers to the supreme power and legitimate right of God to rule, judge, and define reality, with the Bible serving as the authoritative, infallible word of God. It signifies God’s sovereignty over creation, and delegated authority exists through government, the church, and parents, all of which are subordinate to His ultimate authority. 

Key aspects of authority in the Bible include:

• God as Ultimate Authority: All true authority stems from God, as seen in the Ten Commandments, which establish Him as the supreme spiritual authority.

• Christ’s Authority : Jesus claimed all authority in heaven and on earth (Matthew 28:18), demonstrating power over sin, sickness, and spiritual forces.

• Scriptural Authority: The Bible is considered the final, reliable source for worldview, truth, and moral guidance.

Authority is also defined in the New Testament as exousia, which refers to the right to act or the freedom to make decisions, such as the authority given to believers to become children of God (John 1:12).

 The believer’s authority in the Bible is the delegated spiritual right, granted by Jesus Christ and backed by God’s power, for Christians to act in His name to advance the Kingdom, overcome evil, and walk in victory. Based on the finished work of the cross, this authority allows believers to enforce Christ’s victory over sickness, sin, and the enemy. 

Key aspects of the believer’s authority include:

• Delegated Power: It is not personal strength but the authority of the “name of Jesus” (exousia), like a police officer enforcing the law.

• Position in Christ: Believers are seated with Christ in heavenly places, giving them a position of spiritual dominance over demonic forces.

• Purpose: The authority is given to fulfill the Lord’s work, advance the Gospel, and live a life according to God’s will.

• Usage: It is exercised through faith, using the Word of God, and speaking in faith to command situations to change, often against spiritual opposition.

• Responsibility: This authority is not for selfish gain but for serving God, and it comes with a call to humility and dependence on the Holy Spirit. 

It is essential to distinguish between exousia (the delegated right to act) and dunamis (the inherent power of God). While the former is the authority, the latter is the strength by which the authority is exercised. 

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Now that we have a deeper understanding of the power and authority given to us by Jesus. Let’s look at how we effectively use this power.

Dress appropriately for the battle – Ephesians 6:10-18, details the whole armor of God. This is the one outfit that we should put on every morning (spiritually speaking). We must speak it daily – putting it on by faith. Pay attention to the purpose of every piece of our armor and use it accordingly.

Speak to the mountains in your life – Mark 11:23, tells we can speak to the situations in our lives that look like mountains, but are only the enemy trying to get us to back down from doing the will of God.

Clean house spiritually – the principle of Binding and Loosing – Matthew 16:19 and 18:18, details the keys (authority) given to the church. This is a perfect example of that attitude David showed when he dealt with Goliath. We cannot allow anything to attempt to shut down the importance of the function of the body of Christ – kingdom work. This includes things happening in our personal lives. We have God given authority that we are expected to use to maintain order.

This is a battle – Remember 2 Corinthians 10:4-5, “the weapons of our warfare are not carnal” means that spiritual battles are fought with divine power rather than human, worldly methods. Instead of using manipulation, physical force, or human reasoning, these weapons are mighty through God to demolish strongholds, cast down arguments, and bring thoughts into obedience to Christ. 

**The bottom line – we cannot allow the enemy to go unchecked in our lives, our homes, our jobs, our local church, our community, etc. We have power and authority that God expects us to exercise daily. This is key for the abundant and victorious life God has promised to believers. It is our responsibility to take action to obtain and maintain. Then we trust God to do what he said he would do. This is a partnership. God will do his part, but we must also do ours.

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Self-reflection time.

Are there areas in your life where you recognize opportunities to take authority? Areas where you have noticed the weeds sowed among your seeds? Areas where you might have allowed small things to fester because you thought they were “not that bad” or “not worth the fight” or argument that might happen if you addressed it?  Are you facing difficulties, challenges, or losses that you have not addressed spiritually?

If so, understand that prayer is a weapon; praise and worship are tools we can use to maintain our peace and positive attitude in Christ. Psalms 16:11, reminds us that in the presence of God is the fulness of joy and pleasures forevermore. The joy of the Lord is our strength (Nehemiah 8:10).

Repent, and get back to where God needs you to be. Take authority over the things that are trying to bind you and hold you hostage to the past or prior mistakes you made. Forgive yourself and refuse to continue to punish yourself for prior poor decisions. Now that you know better, do better. Move away from those old habits. Speak to these mountains, in Jesus’ name, and cast them out. Be free! For whom the son has set free is free indeed!

Have a blessed day.