Lookout

[00:00:07] Speaker A: Welcome to the weekday podcast of Sugar Hill Church, where we desire to help you know God and discover your purpose, whether you're exercising, driving, meditating, or just hanging out while you tune in with us today. Thanks. We hope these next five minutes help you feel encouraged and inspired for your day. [00:00:22] Speaker B: Hi everybody, Pastor Chuck Allen here with another weekday podcast where I want to talk to us today about being on guard. Listen to what First Corinthians says in chapter 16. Beginning in verse 13, Be on guard, Paul writes, stand firm in the faith, be courageous, be strong, and do everything with love. In this powerful verse, Paul provides four succinct commands that will unpack over the next few days that encapsulate how Christians should live. And I want us to explore these commands a little bit more in depth, starting with be on your guard. Paul begins with a call to vigilance, which, by the way, echoes Jesus words in Matthew 26:41 where he said, keep watch and pray so that you will not give in to temptation, for the Spirit is willing, the body is weak. Imagine you're a night watchman at an ancient city's gate. The air is crisp, the stars twinkle overhead, and the weight of responsibility rests on your shoulders. One moment of distraction could mean disaster for those people that you've been sworn to protect. In many ways, you're that watchman. The Apostle Paul's work literally echoes through times. It was a clarion call to vigilance. Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong. But what does it mean to be on guard? In a world of smartphones, social media, and 247 distractions, it means keeping your spiritual radar on high alert. It's recognizing that while we may not face physical armies at our gates, we're in a daily battle against, well, According to Ephesians 6, evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world. The enemy doesn't always announce his arrival with trumpets and war cries. Sometimes he slips in through the cracks of our busyness, our complacency, and our small compromises. Being on guard is about discernment. It's developing a finely tuned spiritual palette that can distinguish truth from the most cleverly disguised lies. Remember, even Satan can masquerade as an angel of light. That's why John says, dear friends, do not believe everything or everyone who claims to speak by the spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have come from God. But here's the beautiful thing about this vigilance. It's not fueled by fear. It's powered by love. Love for God and love for others. It's about being ready, like a well prepared host, to share the hope that lives within us. As Peter reminds us, if someone asks your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it. So how do we cultivate this watchful heart in a world that seems designed to distract us? Well, first, stay connected to the source. Just as a security system needs power to function, we need to stay plugged into God's word and presence. 2. Train your spiritual senses. Like a wine taster developing their palate, we need to regularly expose ourselves to truth so we can spot counterfeits and stand together. Remember, ancient cities didn't rely on a single watchman, but a team. We need each other to stay alert and strong. So as you go about your day, remember you're on guard duty. Not with a sword and a shield, but with a heart attuned to God's voice and eyes open to his work and the world around us. It's a high calling, yes, but take heart. The one who called you is faithful and he stands watch with you. Stay alert, friend. The dawn is coming. God bless you and thanks so much for joining me on another weekday podcast. [00:03:59] Speaker A: Thanks so much for joining us today for the weekday podcast. Our prayer is that the encouragement you just heard would help you live more like Jesus today. We would love to see you at Sugar Hill Church for one of our gatherings each Sunday at 9, 15 and 11. And we're always streaming live at Live Sugarhill Church. Thanks again for joining us today. As always, if today's message encouraged you, share it with friends and family by tapping the share button. Have an awesome day.