Alertness

vs. Carelessness

Alertness is exercising my physical and

spiritual senses to recognize the dangers that
could diminish the resources entrusted to me.

Definition
Alertness presupposes dan-
gers that threaten to diminish or
destroy the resources God has
entrusted to us and that we must
man’s life consisteth not in the
abundance of the things which
he possesseth” (Luke 12:15).
• “Beware [blepo] lest any man spoil
you through philosophy and
A lertness is
the awareness that we are
being stalked by a deadly
vain deceit, after the tradition
exercise extreme care in protecting enemy. (See I Peter 5:8.)
of men, after the rudiments of
these resources. The Biblical words
the world, and not after Christ” Lions hunt in groups called
beware and vigilance explain the
(Colossians 2:8). prides. While part of the pride
concept of alertness.
• “Beware [blepo] of dogs [men hides in the grass and blocks
• Beware—Three Greek words
with evil minds], beware of evil the escape route of the intended
are translated beware and each
workers” (Philippians 3:2). victim, other lions frighten
defines a different intensity of
• “Beware [phulasso] lest ye also, the prey, driving it into the
alertness. Blepo means “to per-
ceive or observe.” Phulasso con- being led away with the error path of the concealed hunters.
veys the idea of a sentry who of the wicked, fall from your Those who are truly alert
is carefully guarding those put own stedfastness” (II Peter 3:17). recognize both obvious and
under his care lest they escape. hidden dangers. (See James 4:7.)
The third word, prosecho, means What Must We Protect?
“to give attention to, be cautious
about, to devote thought to.” • Our time: Time is a valuable “Set a strong guard
asset that attracts many robbers. about thy outward senses:
• Vigilance—Gregoreuo means “to
take heed lest through remission (See Ephesians 5:16.) these are Satan’s landing
and indolence some destructive places, especially the eye
• Our health: Energy and vitality
calamity suddenly overtake one.” and the ear.” —William Gurnall
will be dissipated through im-
A church leader must be sober moral living. (See Proverbs 5:11.)
and vigilant. (See I Peter 5:8.)
• Our purity: Evil men and women

What to Beware of:

• “Beware [prosecho] of false
prey upon the unsuspecting and
defile the strength and wealth of
their purity. (See Proverbs 5:10, 6:26.)
W hen did flattery
disarm a king and cause
prophets, which come to • Our fellowship with God: “Your him to lose all the trea-
you in sheep’s clothing, but iniquities have separated between sures of his kingdom?
inwardly they are ravening you and your God” (Isaiah 59:2).
(See II Kings 20:12–18.)
wolves” (Matthew 7:15). • Our family and friends: Beware
• “Beware [prosecho] ye of the of whisperers, for they separate
leaven of the Pharisees, which chief friends. (See Proverbs 16:28.) “The price of freedom is
is hypocrisy” (Luke 12:1). • Our good name: “A good name eternal vigilance.”
• “Take heed, and beware [phu- is rather to be chosen than —Thomas Jefferson
lasso] of covetousness: for a great riches, and loving favour
From The Power for True Success ©2001 by the Institute in Basic Life Principles • www.iblp.org Alertness 35
 rather than silver and gold”
(Proverbs 22:1). Touch
• Our money and possessions: Spiritual touch: “Which we
“A gracious woman retaineth have heard, which we have seen
honour: and strong men retain with our eyes, which we have
riches” (Proverbs 11:16). looked upon, and our hands
have handled, of the Word of
• Our eternal rewards: “Hold that life” (I John 1:1).
fast which thou hast, that no man
take thy crown” (Revelation 3:11).
Smell
Spiritual smell: “We are the
The ring-necked
What Is the Basis of savour of death unto death;
pheasant survives by Alertness? and to the other the savour of
life unto life” (II Corinthians 2:16).
fleeing the attacks of Every physical sense has a
predators. It can easily corresponding spiritual sense.
detect approaching danger Through our physical senses we
through its keen senses of can be alert to the physical world,
How Can We Develop
sight and hearing. and through our spiritual senses Greater Alertness?
we are able to understand the
1. Recognize that we are in
spiritual world. A mature believer
perpetual warfare.
is one who exercises all his senses
to discern between good and evil. Since Satan’s fall, evil has
(See Hebrews 5:14.)
warred against good and Satan
has aimed to kill, steal, and de-
stroy Godly generations and the
foundations of righteousness. (See
Physical Senses John 10:10.)
and Corresponding Scripture urges us to be
Spiritual Senses “good soldiers” of Jesus Christ (see
II Timothy 2:3). A soldier gives up

T ime is a limited
resource that is extended
Sight
Spiritual sight: “Open thou
mine eyes, that I may behold
his personal desires and comforts
for the sake of the cause for which
he is fighting. As believers, we also
are to forsake worldly pleasures so
only by giving the first wondrous things out of thy law” that we can fight the good fight of
(Psalm 119:18).
part back to God. faith. (See I Timothy 6:12.)

2. Realize that our enemy is a

“Redeeming the time, because the
days are evil.” —Ephesians 5:16
Hearing master of deception.
Spiritual hearing: “Of whom we Jesus warned that Satan is
have many things to say, and
a liar and the father of lies (see
hard to be uttered, seeing ye are
“I have ever found it, when John 8:44). The Apostle Paul pointed
dull of hearing” (Hebrews 5:11).
I have thought the battle out that Satan is able to disguise
was over and the conquest himself as an angel of light. “For
gained, and so let down my Taste such are false apostles, deceitful
watch, the enemy had risen Spiritual taste: “O taste and see workers, transforming themselves
that the LORD is good: blessed into the apostles of Christ. And
up and done me the
is the man that trusteth in him” no marvel; for Satan himself is
greatest injury.”
(Psalm 34:8). transformed into an angel of light”
—David Brainerd
(II Corinthians 11:13–14).

36 Alertness From The Power for True Success ©2001 by the Institute in Basic Life Principles • www.iblp.org
3. Ask God for spiritual wrong people and wrong ideas.
understanding. Paul wrote, “Now I beseech you,
When Solomon became king, brethren, mark them which cause
he asked God for keen spiritual divisions and offenses contrary
senses: “Give therefore thy servant to the doctrine which ye have
an understanding heart to judge learned; and avoid them” (Romans
thy people, that I may discern 16:17). “Foolish and unlearned
between good and bad” (I Kings 3:9). questions avoid, knowing that

B
Paul prayed that the believers they do gender strifes” (II Timothy
in Ephesus would be aware of 2:23). “Avoid foolish questions,
their position in Christ and thus and genealogies, and conten- e Vigilant!
live victoriously. “The eyes of your tions, and strivings about the
law; for they are unprofitable During certain periods of
understanding being enlightened;
and vain” (Titus 3:9). history, a prison guard’s life
that ye may know what is the hope
• Be alert to escape—When we depended on his ability to ex-
of his calling, and what the riches
of the glory of his inheritance in recognize temptation, we are ercise vigilance. If the prisoner
the saints” (Ephesians 1:18). promised that there is also a escaped, the guard was put to
way to escape, if we are alert death. Thus, the Philippian
4. Understand that life involves to recognize it. “There hath no jailer drew his sword to kill
cause-and-effect sequences. temptation taken you but such himself when he thought that
Alertness is motivated by as is common to man: but God Paul and Silas had escaped.
the realization that actions have is faithful, who will not suffer (See Acts 16:27.)
predictable results and that the you to be tempted above that
laws of the harvest apply to all ye are able; but will with the
levels of life. Scripture warns us temptation also make a way to
to not be deceived. Whatever we escape, that ye may be able to
sow, we will also reap. (See Galatians bear it” (I Corinthians 10:13).
“A thief can steal in a
6:8–9.) We reap what we sow, we • Be alert to flee—Joseph was moment, but the watchman
reap where we sow, we reap more alert to the danger when con- must watch all night. Sin
than we sow, and we reap in a fronted with the evil request
different season than we sow. can undo in an unguarded
of Potiphar’s wife, and conse-
second the character which
quently he fled. Similarly, we
5. Have a Biblical response to required years to form.”
are instructed to flee youthful
each danger. lusts and situations that would
—C. H. Spurgeon

• Be alert to resist—Our first line lead to fornication. (See II Timothy

of resistance must be to check 2:22, I Corinthians 6:18.)
every thought that comes to
our minds. Satan can put evil
thoughts into our minds as he
Personal Evaluation
did with Peter (see Mark 8:33) and How alert are you to danger?
with Ananias and Sapphira (see
Acts 5:3). As soon as we recognize
• Do you daily remind yourself that you are in a spiritual war?
that a thought is not from God, • Do you diligently guard your time from detractors?
we should resist it and bring it • Do you confirm with Scripture everything you are taught?
into captivity to the obedience
• Do you guard your daily time with the Lord and His Word?
of Jesus Christ (see II Corinthians
10:4–5). “Resist the devil, and he
• Do you reject all whisperers and talebearers?
will flee from you” (James 4:7). • Do you protect your good name by doing only what is right?
• Be alert to avoid—Danger can • Do you ask God for daily guidance and find His will?
come from association with the

From The Power for True Success ©2001 by the Institute in Basic Life Principles • www.iblp.org Alertness 37