Topical Encyclopedia
The term "vigilant" refers to the quality of being watchful and alert, especially to avoid danger or to ensure the fulfillment of a duty. In the context of the Bible, vigilance is often associated with spiritual alertness and readiness, particularly in anticipation of the return of Jesus Christ and the challenges posed by spiritual adversaries.
Biblical References:1.
1 Peter 5:8 · "Be sober-minded and alert. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." This verse underscores the necessity of vigilance in the Christian life. Believers are called to be sober-minded and alert, recognizing the constant threat posed by the devil, who seeks to lead them astray.
2.
Matthew 24:42 · "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day on which your Lord will come." Jesus instructs His followers to remain vigilant, emphasizing the unpredictability of His return. This call to watchfulness is a reminder to live in a state of readiness, maintaining faith and obedience.
3.
1 Thessalonians 5:6 · "So then, let us not sleep as the others do, but let us remain awake and sober." The Apostle Paul encourages the Thessalonian believers to stay awake and sober, contrasting the spiritual alertness of Christians with the spiritual lethargy of the world. This vigilance is crucial for living a life that honors God and anticipates Christ's return.
4.
Revelation 3:2-3 · "Wake up and strengthen what remains, which was about to die; for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of My God. Remember, then, what you have received and heard. Keep it and repent. If you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know the hour when I will come upon you." In this message to the church in Sardis, Jesus calls for vigilance and repentance, warning of the consequences of spiritual complacency.
Theological Significance:Vigilance is a critical aspect of the Christian life, reflecting a believer's commitment to spiritual discipline and readiness. It involves a conscious effort to remain spiritually awake, discerning the times, and guarding against temptation and false teachings. Vigilance is not merely a passive state but an active engagement in prayer, study of Scripture, and fellowship with other believers.
Practical Application:Christians are encouraged to cultivate vigilance through regular prayer, meditation on God's Word, and participation in the life of the church. By doing so, they can better discern the movements of the Holy Spirit and the deceptions of the enemy. Vigilance also involves being attentive to the needs of others, serving as watchmen who warn and guide fellow believers in love and truth.
In summary, vigilance is an essential quality for Christians, enabling them to navigate the spiritual challenges of life with wisdom and faithfulness, always prepared for the return of their Lord.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(
a.) Attentive to discover and avoid danger, or to provide for safety; wakeful; watchful; circumspect; wary.
Greek
1127. gregoreo -- to be awake, to watch... awake, to watch. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: gregoreo Phonetic Spelling:
(gray-gor-yoo'-o) Short Definition: I am awake, am
vigilant, watch Definition
...3525. nepho -- to be sober, to abstain from wine
... be sober, to abstain from wine. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: nepho Phonetic
Spelling: (nay'-fo) Short Definition: I am calm,vigilant, sober Definition...
69. agrupneo -- to be sleepless, wakeful
... 69 (from 1 , "not" and 5258 , "sleep") -- properly, no sleeping; (figuratively)
stayingvigilant (alert, attentive), ie without any unnecessary "time off."....
3524. nephalios -- sober
... nephalios Phonetic Spelling: (nay-fal'-eh-os) Short Definition: sober, temperate
Definition: sober, not intoxicated (with wine), temperate,vigilant....
Library
Demonstration x. --Of Pastors.
... his flock. He used to watch in the night-time to guard it and wasvigilant;
and he used to toil in the daytime to feed it. As Jacob...
1 Timothy iii. 4-Jan
... A Bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife,vigilant, sober, of good
behavior, given to hospitality, apt to teach; not given to wine, no striker...
Motives to the Oversight of the Flock
... perish. You have a subtle enemy, and therefore you must be wise. You have
avigilant enemy, and therefore you must bevigilant. You...
Titus ii. 5-Feb
... For this reason he exhorts old men concerning these matters, "to bevigilant."
[1486] For there are many things which at this period make men otherwise than...
Whether the Saints in Heaven Pray for Us?
...Vigilant.6), the error of Vigilantius consisted in saying that "while we live, we
can pray one for another; but that after we are dead, none of our prayers for...
The Christian is to Walk Circumspectly.
... 15. To walk circumspectly is to walk cautiously; to look where one is stepping;
to bevigilant, watchful, diligent, attentive. Be...
Desire to Please.
... inevitably come in contact with young men whom perhaps you do not know; then you
should guard the senses, the mind and the heart withvigilant care; without...
The Charge of the Pilgrim Priests
... all through the march do you stick by these precious things. Whoever sleeps,
do you watch. Whoever is careless, be youvigilant....
The Author to the Reader.
... knowing that my very apology in this case, will need an apology; only I shall say
this, that considering how the snare, which thevigilant and active enemy of...
Enmity Between Man and Satan
... ignore his very existence. While men are ignorant of his devices, thisvigilant
foe is upon their track every moment. He is intruding...
Thesaurus
Vigilant (4 Occurrences)... Multi-Version Concordance
Vigilant (4 Occurrences). 1 Corinthians 16:13 Be
vigilant;
stand fast in the faith; quit yourselves like men; be strong. (DBY).
...Vigilance (1 Occurrence)
... 1. (n.) Watchfulness in respect of danger; care; caution; circumspection. 2. (n.)
The quality or state of beingvigilant; forbearance of sleep; wakefulness....
Watch (203 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) The act of watching; forbearance of sleep; vigil; wakeful,vigilant, or
constantly observant attention; close observation; guard; preservative or...
Vigor (11 Occurrences)
Opponent (13 Occurrences)
... 1 Peter 5:8 Be sober,vigilant, because your opponent the devil, as a roaring
lion, doth walk about, seeking whom he may swallow up, (YLT)....
Jealous (43 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (a.) Zealous; solicitous;vigilant; anxiously watchful.
2. (a.) Apprehensive; anxious; suspiciously watchful....
Walketh (62 Occurrences)
... (KJV ASV WBS). 1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, bevigilant; because your adversary the devil,
as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: (KJV ASV WBS)....
Wakeful (3 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (a.) Not sleeping; indisposed to sleep; watchful;
vigilant. Multi-Version Concordance Wakeful (3 Occurrences)....
Ward (27 Occurrences)
... 16. (n.) To fend off; to repel; to turn aside, as anything mischievous that approaches;
-- usually followed by off. 17. (vi) To bevigilant; to keep guard. 18....
Watchful (17 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (a.) Full of watch;vigilant; attentive; careful to observe
closely; observant; cautious; -- with of before the thing to be regulated...
Resources
What does it mean to watch and pray? | GotQuestions.orgI overcame _______ sin. How can I avoid a relapse? | GotQuestions.orgWhat are the promises of God? | GotQuestions.orgVigilant: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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