Sobriety
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Bethel MBC

December 12, 2007

Wednesday evening

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about seeking whom he may devour.”

Sober:  

                a. Sparing in the use of food and drink

                b. Marked by sedate, grave, or earnestly thoughtful character or demeanor

                c. Unhurried, calm

                d. Marked by temperance, moderation, or seriousness

                e. Subdued in tone or color

                f. Showing no excessive or extreme qualities of fancy, emotion, of prejudice

Other renditions of sobriety:

1. Watchful:       not able or accustomed to sleep or rest

                 a. For the Second Coming of Christ (I Thessalonians 5:5-6)

                 b. Against sin and temptation (Matthew 26:41)

2. Vigilance        to watch alertly; especially to avoid danger

                 a. Luke 12:37

3. Moderation   Avoiding extremes of behavior or expression

                 a. Curbing every passion

4. Soundness          
                 a. Free from error, fallacy or misapprehension
                 b. Exhibition or based on thorough knowledge and experience
                 c. Showing good judgment or sense
                 d. Titus 2:2

5. Prudence        marked by wisdom or judiciousness

                  a. Proverbs 14:15

                  b. Proverbs 22:3

6. Dignified in restraint                 exercising self-control

I. Sober in what??

                   a. Thoughts        Romans 12
                   b. Words             Acts 26:25
                   c. Life                  Titus 2:12
                   d. Mind                II Corinthians 5:13; I Thessalonians 5:5-9

We are to be mentally alert and watchful

II. Why be sober??

                    a. I Thessalonians 5:8     Because we are “of the day”.  We have been redeemed
                         and ought to realize that there is seriousness to why we are here.

III. Who needs to be sober??

Basically, EVERY saved individual is called to a sober life, but the scriptures specifically mention the following categories of people:

                     a. Bishops                         Titus 1:7,8; I Timothy 3:1-2
                     b. Wives                            I Timothy 3:10-11
                     c. Aged men                      Titus 2:2
                     d. Young women               Titus 2:4
                     e. Young men                    Titus 2:6
                     f. Women                           I Timothy 2:8,9