Chapter 1
Standing Watch: Knowing the Real Enemy
As we kick off this series, I want you to see right from the start why this matters. We’re not just talking about false religions or cults—we’re talking about a very real enemy who would love nothing more than to knock the believer off balance. That’s why Peter tells us in 1 Peter 5 to be sober and to be vigilant. There’s a command here, an explanation, and an encouragement, and all three set the stage for this whole course.
1. The Command: Be Sober & Be Vigilant
Christian, God expects us to stay spiritually awake. We’re not supposed to drift through life on autopilot. We ought to be like a guard on watch in the middle of the night—eyes open, heart steady, fully aware that one foolish step can ruin a testimony or hurt a family.
Growing in godliness doesn’t just happen by accident. You don’t get saved and instantly become spiritual. You grow through prayer, through the Word, and through staying alert. That’s why I’m so thankful for our praying church—because a church that prays together stays together.
2. The Explanation: The Adversary and His Roar
Peter reminds us that we really do have an enemy. Satan is called our adversary—the accuser, the one who digs up dirt and tries to tear down your walk with God. He’s also compared to a roaring lion—loud, intimidating, and terrifying if you’re not grounded in truth.
The devil loves to accuse.
“Hey, you failed again.”
“You haven’t read your Bible this week.”
“You’re not good enough.”
That roar is meant to distract you from the goodness of God. But here’s the good news: Satan is resistible. His roar is often bigger than his bite. When we stand on the promises of God, the roar loses its power.
3. Understanding Temptation
James 1 teaches us something important—temptation comes from within. We’re not all tempted by the same things, but we’re all tempted the same way. Lust draws, lust entices, lust conceives, and eventually it brings forth death.
The devil’s tactic is simple: get you to rationalize sin so you trade the goodness of God for something cheap. Many of us live off the bottom shelf when God’s trying to hand us the name-brand blessings. We settle for spiritual knockoffs when God wants to give us the real thing.
Temptation is designed to pull your eyes off Christ. But when you fall in love with the goodness of God, temptation loses its shine.
4. The Word of God: Our Final Authority
This entire series rests on this truth:
The Bible is our authority.
Not tradition.
Not feelings.
Not culture.
Not some “new revelation.”
The Word of God is inspired, sufficient, and complete.
Second Timothy 3 reminds us the Bible is profitable for:
Doctrine — what is right
Reproof — what is wrong
Correction — how to make it right
Instruction in righteousness — how to stay right
False religions cannot survive beside the pure Word of God. That’s why they add books, change doctrines, or twist Scripture. If the Bible alone was their authority, their systems would collapse overnight.
That’s why we’re studying this. Truth matters.
5. The Word of God Is Alive and Powerful
Hebrews 4:12 tells us the Bible is alive. It cuts deep. It discerns the heart. It exposes the lies we’ve believed—whether those lies came from the world, from our flesh, or from false doctrine.
I’ve never met a Christian who regretted reading the Bible. But I’ve met plenty who regretted ignoring it. The more you fall in love with this Book, the harder it becomes for the enemy to deceive you.
6. Resisting Deception Through Truth and Prayer
The armor of God gives us two offensive weapons:
the Sword of the Spirit (the Word of God) and prayer.
Church, those two together can storm the gates of hell. The more we saturate our hearts with Scripture and the more we stay on our knees, the sharper our discernment becomes. We learn to tell truth from error, sheep from wolves, conviction from mere opinion. This is how we stand against the devil at our doorstep—whether he comes through temptation, discouragement, or the false teachings of a counterfeit religion.
7. A Call to Authentic Biblical Living
At the end of the day, studying Scripture is not just about information. It’s about transformation. God wants to shape us into Christlikeness so we’re not tossed to and fro by every doctrine that comes knocking. Just one church—one church fully committed to God’s Word—can spark revival in a community. Let’s be that church. Let’s determine that the Bible will shape our families, our choices, our beliefs, and our witness. When we plant ourselves firmly on the Word of God, we will not be deceived. And the devil at your doorstep won’t stand a chance.