THE RIGHT KIND OF MIND CONTROL

1 Thess. 5:6-8

Morning Meditation

"Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.  For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.  But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation."

The word “sober” means, “To be calm and collected in spirit; to be temperate, dispassionate, circumspect.” A sober minded person is strict in his attitude toward sacred things. He will not fall into the entertainment trap that is going on in so many pulpits today. Let’s look at how this word is used in the New Testament.

SOBER MINDEDNESS PREPARES US FOR THE RETURN OF CHRIST

It is to keep us faithful in the light of the Lord’s return; Verse 6 says, "Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober." Sleeping here means being totally unaware of what is going on around you.

The words, “as do others” mean that in Paul’s day there were those who were asleep concerning the promise of the future. This is not just a last day prediction. It was disobedience in that day just as it is in our day. Some Christians know nothing of the promise of His return.

The words, “but let us watch and be sober,” mean that we stay constantly on the alert. I have just been watching the news concerning a recent terrorist attack in the London subways. The report is that the people vacated the subways fairly orderly and in a hurry. These people who have been attacked are constantly on the lookout for anyone leaving a bag and getting off the subway. They are not asleep. They are sober and constantly watching. This illustrates the meaning of this passage.

IT IS TO BE THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE MINISTRY

1 Timothy 3:2, "A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behavior, given to hospitality, apt to teach;"

The word sober in this verse is a different one than in our text. The word “sober” translates “sophron” and mean, “of a sound mind, sane, in one’s senses; curbing one’s desires and impulses, self-controlled, temperate.” These are qualifications for the ministry. Therefore, to be “sober-minded” is a characteristic of the ministry. One should never be ordained to the ministry if he is not sober-minded.

The pastor has to deal with illness and death all the time. Moreover, a person who is not sober-minded will not help the situation. Unwise words spoken on such occasions can hurt deeply. Therefore, instead of being there to comfort, the pastor who lacks this soberness is a hindrance to family and friends.

YOUNG WOMEN ARE TO BE TRAINED TO BE SOBER MINDED

Titus 2:4, "That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,"

The word “sober” translates “sophronizo” and means “to restore one to his senses; to moderate, control, curb; to hold one to his duty; to admonish, to exhort earnestly.”  This is a continuous action verb which means that it is to be constantly practiced. It is also a learned process. The young women are to be taught this truth.

We have a tendency to over look silly teenagers who are not sober-minded. If they are old enough to be saved they are old enough to be trained. I do not mean for this to be critical. I’m just trying to help you understand what Paul is teaching Timothy to teach others.

YOUNG MEN ARE TO BE TRAINED TO BE SOBER-MINDED

Titus 2:6, "Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded." The words sober-minded translate “sophroneo” and it means “mind-control.” to be of a sound mind; to put a moderate estimate upon one’s self, think of one’s self soberly. This would take away the pride and teach one to think humbly of one’s self. Micah 6:8 says, “He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?”

BEING SOBER MINDED IS CONNECTED TO PRAYER

1 Peter 4:7, "But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer."

Paul definitely believed in the imminent return of Christ. The words “at hand” mean that it is as close as the hand hanging by your side. This is to motivate us to have a sober mind at all times.

May the Lord give us grace and strength to be known as people of prayer with reference to the soon coming of the Lord.

May the Lord bless these words to our hearts.

In Christ

Bro. White