Stay On The Wall

This week I want to talk about being watchful.

The verse we build this track on is 1 Corinthians 16:13. “Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.” “Act like men” sits in the middle. The other words tell us how to get there. This week, let’s look at the first one. Be watchful.

Basically it is a military word. Some translations say be on guard, be alert, be on watch. When someone is on watch, he is standing on a wall for other people. The job is not about him. If he sleeps, the people behind him are in danger.

So, first things first. There is an enemy. Jesus said the thief comes to kill, steal and destroy (John 10:10). And he aims at the one who is watching. Why? Because if the one on the wall falls, the people who cannot defend themselves are open. I have seen it. Many times the pain in a person’s life traces back to someone who did not stand up when he should have. Kids who cannot trust God because of a father who was not there. So God calls us to be on the wall. Not on my watch.

Peter writes about this in 1 Peter 5. He is writing to the elders of the church, and really to all of us. He knew the schemes of the enemy. They are always the same. The passage shows us what takes people off the wall.

Let’s take a look. I see five in the text. It is not a complete list, just five.

1. Pride. “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God” (1 Peter 5:6). Basically pride is trying to exalt yourself because you don’t trust God to do it. It is the hardest sin to see in the mirror, because you like what you see. Do you seek credit? Do you need to be right? Do you need a thank you? I had to repent of that one. I felt entitled to gratitude. The antidote is humility, and humility is not a feeling, it is a posture. You have to physically reposition yourself. And worship is the weapon against pride. When you worship, you say “Jesus is Lord”, and that also says I am not. Pride says “what will people think”. Worship says He is the point.

2. Worry. “Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7). God gave us responsibility to take care of things. The enemy twists that into worry and anxiety. Worry is misplaced faith. Fear and worry look at tomorrow and assume you are in control. Faith looks at tomorrow and sees God still holding everything. The antidote is prayer. “Cast” means to throw. So don’t throw your care at God and then reel it back in like a fishing rod and carry it to your seat. My first boss told me, if you are going to pray, why worry? If you are going to worry, why pray? When worry comes, use it as a trigger. Go to Him. Pray, pray, pray. And the promise is real. Peace that you cannot explain, peace that guards your heart. Also, mercies come new every morning. Tomorrow’s mercy is for tomorrow. Today you get today’s.

3. Laziness. “Be sober-minded; be watchful” (1 Peter 5:8). Comfort is not a value in the Kingdom. David stayed home in the spring, when kings went out to battle, and everything fell apart from there. C.S. Lewis said our desires are not too strong, they are too weak. God offers us the sea and we settle for mud pies. If you are bored as a believer, something is off. There is a mission. Serve someone. Go on a mission trip. And don’t give work your best and the people at home the leftovers. Your family is your first church.

Here is a practical one. Ask the person you love “how can I pray for you?”, listen carefully, then take their hand and pray out loud. It can be short. Just do it.

4. Isolation. “Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). Lions take down the one that is alone. Get in the herd. The three most dangerous words are “I got this”. The gospel starts with the opposite. Even Jesus, in Gethsemane, asked His friends to pray with Him. If Jesus needed a band of brothers, who are we to say we are fine alone? Find two, three, four people you can be honest with, who will pray for you. Don’t wait until you need it. Brotherhood is like a retirement account. If you build it only when you need it, it is too late.

5. Lust. “Resist him, firm in your faith” (1 Peter 5:9). In most battles we stand and fight. Here the Bible says flee (1 Corinthians 6:18). Every failure looks the same. We did not flee, we flirted, because we thought “I got this”. Proverbs 6:27, can a man carry fire against his chest and not be burned? So take radical measures. Phone out of the bedroom at night. Confess out loud and let someone hold you accountable. And pursue Jesus. The heart is won by a greater affection. As He becomes more beautiful, the other things get dimmer.

Now, for anyone who already fell. And I know there are many. “And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you” (1 Peter 5:10). Failure is not final. When we fall, we fall on the same grace that saved us. This is not a “man up” message. You cannot pull yourself up by your own bootstraps. He restores you and puts you back on the wall. He speaks a good word over you, not based on your performance, but “this is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased”. He strengthens you, many times through other people. And He establishes you again.

I love how Romans 8:37 says we are more than conquerors. A conqueror wins the battle and takes the spoils. More than a conqueror means you win, take the spoils, and then sleep in the castle, because the King is your Father.

So this week, here is what I want you to do. Write down the one thing that takes you off the wall most. Just one. Then tell one trusted person about it this week. I strongly believe this is where the victory starts.

You are on the wall for a reason. The people God gave you need you there. Stand firm.