STAND FIRM: Guarding Your Freedom

Nobody Hands You Freedom Twice.

Popular opinions, comfort, and compromise test you every day.

Most men know what’s right.

Few have earned the calluses.

Standing firm isn’t nostalgia or keeping up appearances—it’s trench warfare for the soul.

The world is continually working to redraw your boundaries.

Let them, and you lose ground—conversation by conversation, policy by policy, moment by moment.

This is the fight you can’t outsource.

The Footwork Problem

Knowing the Foundation Isn’t Enough

The modern church is packed with experts but starving for fighters.

Men know the right answers but freeze when it’s time to get dirty.

They dodge conflict, nod along with what’s safe, keep the peace at all costs—even as the truth gets trampled.

It’s like runners obsessed with the latest gear, but untested in the mud. All talk, no mileage. Comfort is easy; conviction takes scars.

Anyone can study doctrine. Real strength is proven under pressure, when standing your ground means facing heat, not applause.

Don’t settle for borrowed words or rigid scripts. Test your footing on real ground. Be known for discernment, not just debate.

Standing Firm Isn’t Safe or Popular—It’s Necessary

Paul in the Storm: When chaos hit, Paul stood on God’s promise while everyone else panicked.

Daniel in the Den: His prayer life didn’t waver, even facing death.

The Soldier’s Drill: “Always deployable”—preparedness isn’t theater; it’s survival.

I once got ear-holed in football practice—helmet square to the side of my head—because I locked onto my objective and missed the danger coming from the edge. I was so focused on my assignment that I never saw the hit. One blind spot and I was flat on my back, hearing the coaches yell, pride gone, ground lost.

That’s how spiritual footing works, too. It’s not just about grip—it’s about awareness. You can brace all you want, but if you stop scanning for the enemy coming from a new angle, you’ll get blindsided when it matters most. Some hits don’t hurt until you’re already on the ground.

Firm ground isn’t just discipline; it’s readiness. You need both: feet planted, head on a swivel.

Weak Feet = Weak Witness.

Soft foundations guarantee you’ll lose ground—once you start giving up conviction, the enemy steps in. Every time you back down or avoid facing the truth, you surrender protection you can’t afford to lose. The world doesn’t need more armchair believers—men who talk big but fold fast under pressure.

What’s needed are men who stay alert, plant their boots, and refuse to give an inch—even when it costs. Too many now trade conviction for comfort, discipline for popularity. That’s why the church is littered with casualties—men who wanted peace more than they wanted to stand for the right thing.

Here’s the reality: The minute strong men back down, compromise walks through the open door. If you don’t stand your ground, someone else decides your boundaries—and those under your watch pay the price.

Your stand is bigger than you. It’s about your brothers, your family, and a world waiting to see if anyone has the spine to hold fast.

The ground is yours—until you abandon it.

Field Drills: Hold Fast in Practice

Anchor Yourself in the Word:

The truth isn’t yours to adjust. Let Scripture confront and correct you until it’s your natural reflex. Take your thoughts captive—don’t let them run you.

Train for Real-World Precision:

Master the manual, but dig into the why behind every command. When pressure mounts, instinct takes over. Program yours for truth, not comfort.

Discern Which Battles Matter:

Don’t spend your best ammo on noise or distractions. Humility knows when to stand and when to walk. Save your strength for fights that truly count.

Audit Your Ground, Daily:

Every day, check your footing and your stance. Prayer isn’t for show—make it deep and raw. Your faithfulness under pressure is a shield for everyone under your watch.

Final Rally

THE GROUND YOU STAND ON ISN’T JUST DIRT—IT’S A DECLARATION. CHECK IT. HOLD IT.

Dismissed.

Walking in Practical Liberty

It’s all noise until you lock onto the signal. Athletes lose when they chase endorsements, not the finish line. Discus throwers drop distance posing for the mirror, not the medal stand. The world serves up noise—distractions, metrics, and approval. Fixate on it, and you forfeit your aim.

Living off the scoreboard, sweating for likes: that’s an external locus—letting the world define your win. The louder the world, the more you risk missing the only signal that counts. Chasing noise costs you your direction. It trades your internal compass for the crowd’s roar.

But freedom looks different. Men and women who walk in real liberty aren't measuring themselves by plaudits. You spot them by how they show up: steady, rooted, focused. They follow orders from the only One who matters.

If the Son sets you free, you’re free indeed. Not to play for the crowd, but to tune in to the actual signal—moving with purpose, no matter the noise.

Silent Chains of Conformity

Even after claiming Christ's freedom, too many warriors struggle with practical liberty. The biggest threat isn't always external—it's group conformity. Other people's expectations drown out God's signal.

Bondage of performance: Choosing uniformity over unity degrades into soul-crushing conformity. Jesus embraced distinction. Real leaders build healthy systems that allow for diverse gifts. Demanding conformity stifles individuality and innovation, weakening the collective for the real fight.

For veterans, vigilance is second nature. But misdirected, even minor “bugaboos” get blown out of proportion. You create over- and under-constraints, bound to a rigid system or nothing at all. It’s not about dropping your guard; it’s about discerning which signal you’re interpreting.

Freedom’s Foundation

True freedom isn’t about rules or applause. It’s unshakeable solid footing—knowing your Commander, His terrain, and holding an internal stance.

• Moses (Hebrews 11): Turned his back on Pharaoh. Choose God’s call over glory.

• David (1 Samuel): Stepped forward when others froze. Followed God’s signal, not public opinion.

• Peter & John (Acts 4): “We cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” Unwavering internal compass.

Running Light: Field-Tested Strategy

• Know the Terrain: Make Scripture second nature.

• Strong Feet: Lean on discipline, prayer that cuts through noise, obedience, and fellowship.

• Optimize Grip: Always trust God above yourself.

• Context Dictates Direction: Adapt—apply truth to chaos as the battlefield shifts.

Analogy: The barefoot surfer preps, not just shows off. The equipped soldier dons what’s required for the mission, not for show, but for survival—both act from purpose, not external norms. Walk in practical liberty, regardless of the noise.

Walking It Out

• Test Every Spirit: Be a Berean; God’s Word is always the standard.

• Discern Well: “All meat, no bone” vs. “all bone, no meat.” Learn to separate substance from noise.

• Field Wisdom: Christ integrates your experience with His truth. Respect other callings. Ask questions. Growth is a process, not a moment. Slow-cook decisions; don’t rush in a crisis.

• Personal: I thought I knew it all—early wins, hard lessons—until I realized you can hit the bullseye on the wrong target. Practical liberty isn’t about approval. It’s humble discipline, aligning with Christ, real leadership.

Mission Protocols for Liberty

• Listen First: Fight conformity by listening before you speak. “What I’m hearing is…”—build a team, not a hive.

• Own Your Sense-Making: Don’t let the crowd define who you are. Recognize, reframe, and respond from conviction. Build people, not just programs.

• Act on What You Know:

  • Propositional Data—know the manual

  • Procedural Practice—drill it

  • Experiential Application—test it in trenches

  • Embodied Knowledge—walk it out

This Week’s Rally Cry: Lock Onto the Signal

Tune out the noise. Tune in to the signal. Spend as much time listening to God as talking. Seek clarity. Write your prayer as a brief; stand by for His response (see Standing Strong, Charles Stanley).

Liberty isn’t instant—embrace the long pattern. There are no microwaves in heaven.

Mission Orders: Move, Shoot, Communicate

Every mission is rehearsed, briefed, and planned. Stick to your training—first contact shouldn’t be live. Freedom is discipline.

Liberty equals fulfillment in the Father, not the world.

Veterans: Freedom isn’t “do what you want.” It’s operational mobility. America won wars because men didn’t wait—they moved first. Freedom is active.

Don’t hesitate. Move, shoot, communicate.

You’re trained and equipped. Use your weapon. Trust your Commander.

You’re free to take the initiative—no permission needed in God’s will.

Stay in His will. Dismissed.

The Mindset of Freedom

The Call That Changes Everything

Every Memorial Day, fitness enthusiasts across America tackle "The Murph"—a punishing workout honoring Lt. Michael Murphy, the Navy SEAL who made the ultimate choice under relentless enemy fire. He left cover to make a desperate satellite call for his embattled team, giving his life to save his men.

Would you make that call, or would fear talk you out of it?

Murphy's sacrifice reveals a hard truth: fear always produces reasons why you shouldn't do the most obvious thing. It doesn't play the long game, and the decision it produces is always detrimental.

In our spiritual lives, fear functions like a jailer. A wise man once told me that fear means you are overestimating yourself—operating under the assumption that you're doing something in your own power, not God's. This overestimation infects everything: how we give, how we spend, how we lead.

True freedom begins when we break fear's chains and step into the mindset that declares: "Fear Not."

Fear's Surgical Strike

Fear doesn't announce itself. It whispers reasonable excuses for avoiding the obvious, righteous thing to do. For the watchman, this creates an internal war that compromises the very freedom we're called to guard.

Reputation damage: Speaking out against bad doctrine could ruin your standing, dismantle your "little fiefdom." When your reputation propels other areas of life, silence becomes a form of survival.

Institutional retaliation: Entrenched systems with bylaws stacked against truth-tellers. The prospect of exclusion and false accusations paralyzes action.

Golden Handcuffs: The terror of losing your house, car payment, or family security. This keeps you trapped in toxic situations you know aren't God's calling.

These aren't external threats—they're internal saboteurs. The cost? An unfulfilled life, a mission unreached, and situations that inevitably worsen for everyone involved.

Learning Trust the Hard Way

In my youth, I learned the cost of fear firsthand—financial trouble rooted in vanity. I'd miss payments to keep up appearances—the result: car impound, repossession, regret. Fear drove me to focus on all the wrong priorities. I didn't know the Lord then—I was young and stupid. But looking back, I know what's true.

Breaking fear's grip always starts here: Trust God. Trust that He will supply your needs, fight your battles, and sustain you—even if it means letting go of your little plans.

Scripture anchors this truth: "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand" (Isaiah 41:10). God's answer to fear is always His presence—His strength, His help, His unwavering support.

Seeing Patterns, Not Just Problems

Remember "connect the dots" puzzles? Random points on a flat paper that revealed a shape when connected in order. You needed the higher perspective to see the pattern.

Pastor Dennis Keating calls this SBIGO: "Something Bigger Is Going On." Before you douse the immediate fire, run to the balcony. Gain perspective. Seemingly isolated problems might all point to the same underlying issue. Finding the right target might not only resolve one crisis, but many.

Bad actors—driven by fear, lust for control, or spiritual agendas—always stick to a predictable playbook. They use crafty words to steer large crowds, even when leading everyone off a cliff. If you only see individual problems, you react in fear. However, if you recognize the pattern, you can counter their strategy.

This higher vantage helps others gripped by fear's chains. Their current reality is often a construct—one they, or a spiritual enemy, have created. They can't see reality. Arguing won't break that illusion. Instead, follow Jesus' model: reframe reality (It's Him), reframe identity (It's Him in us), reframe mission (It's Him in us, working His will).

Three Essential Drills

Face Your Fears

When fear whispers defeat, remember the Cross.

Even in Gethsemane, when Christ cried tears of blood in unimaginable anguish, He bore our burden fearlessly. Your current fear might feel insurmountable, but remember the One who paid it all and never flinched.

When fear whispers defeat, bring that specific burden to the Cross. Name it, acknowledge the pain, then fix your gaze on Christ's unwavering resolve. Ask: "Did Christ flinch at this?"

Practice Generosity

Fear thrives on clenched fists; faith operates with open hands.

I once faced a $350 car repair I couldn't afford. Days later, an IRS check for $353 arrived—an overpayment refund. The Lord will take care of you.

Identify one attachment where your grip is "too tight"—a financial worry, a relationship you're controlling, a reputation you're guarding. Open your hand and state: "Lord, I might lose this, but I trust You to rectify the situation."

Audit Your Attachments

True freedom begins when we confront and overcome our hidden fears.

What are you hanging onto? What are you afraid of losing, and why?

Take inventory. Is the potential loss due to your mismanagement or circumstances beyond your control? Can you shore up weaknesses, or are you overextended? Take these fears to the Lord in honest prayer, willing to act on His guidance.

Order Matters: The Big Rocks Principle

Picture filling a jar with rocks, pebbles, and sand. If you pour sand first, nothing else fits. But place the big rocks first—your non-negotiable spiritual and relational priorities—and everything else finds its place.

This is foundational wisdom every watchman can test. When your life is ordered with His priorities at the forefront, everything else falls into place by divine design. A misordered life—where fear, comfort, or reputation come before faith and obedience—inevitably collapses under pressure.

This Week's Challenge

The core of your mission: remember that who the Son sets free is free indeed (John 8:36). You're called to freedom Christ paid for, not lifelong bondage to fear.

Your steps this week:

1. Cast off every hindrance: Paul urgently commands in Hebrews 12:1—"throw off everything that hinders." Identify and remove anything that binds you.

2. Shore up obvious holes: Complete your "Attachments Audit" honestly. Address foundation weaknesses that create fertile ground for fear.

3. Seek light in blind spots: Ask the Lord to reveal what you cannot yet see. Trust Him to illuminate where fear hides.

4. Order your priorities: Place the big rocks first. Faith, obedience, and calling must take priority, or nothing else will fit properly.

Your Life, Your Story

Remember: a life built on compromise will be burned away. Don’t bury your calling out of fear—risk your time, talent, and treasure for the One who already won your freedom.

The grave couldn't hold Him. Is anything too big for our God?

Every Memorial Day, thousands honor Murphy's courage by pushing through physical pain and exhaustion. 

This week, freedom is a choice. Will you finally step out from fear's shadow and make the call that counts?

Every day, the call comes—will you answer with faith or hide in fear? This week, let your answer be freedom.

Next Week: "Who the Son Sets Free is Free Indeed"—Walking in Practical Liberty. 

First love, first victory

"He Led Captivity Captive" - The Victory Secured

Every July, we celebrate independence. Flags wave, fireworks explode, and we remember the cost of freedom. But there's a deeper independence that transcends any earthly liberty: the victory Christ secured when "He led captivity captive and gave gifts to men" (Ephesians 4:8).

The battle is already won. Jesus declared this victory complete when He said, "It is finished" (John 19:30). Not "It will be finished" or "It might be finished"—but "It IS finished." Your freedom was purchased in full, with no payment plan required from you.

Most believers know this truth intellectually but struggle to live from it practically. They operate like soldiers who haven't received word that the war is over, still fighting battles that were decided two thousand years ago. They've traded the joy of their salvation for the grinding effort of spiritual performance.

The Ephesus Warning

This is precisely the danger Jesus warned the church in Ephesus about: losing your first love while maintaining doctrinal correctness.

Christ commended them for hating what He hated—they had proper discernment, solid doctrine, and spiritual endurance. They understood Paul's warning:

"See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit" (Colossians 2:8).

They guarded against external deception but missed the internal erosion of first love.

You see this pattern everywhere in modern Christianity. Churches with impeccable doctrine but no joy. Believers who can quote Scripture but can't remember the last time it moved them to tears. Leaders who preach about God's love while displaying none of its warmth. The theology is correct, but the heart has gone cold.

What does "lost first love" look like in individual believers today? You go through the motions without emotion. Prayer becomes duty instead of delight. Scripture reading becomes a mere checkbox rather than a genuine communion. You find yourself majoring in criticism rather than compassion, becoming more concerned with what's wrong with others than what's right with Christ.

The progression is gradual and subtle: from joy to duty, from gratitude to grinding, from worship to work. You start measuring your relationship with God by what you're doing for Him rather than resting in what He's done for you.

Here's the critical truth: hating what He hates is only good if we start with loving what He loves. John didn't write "God is hate" in his epistles—he wrote "God is love" (1 John 4:8). That's the foundation. When we reverse this order, we create religious systems focused on purity codes and conformity rather than charity—the bond of perfection (Colossians 3:14).

The Ephesians had fallen into the trap of fighting FROM correctness instead of fighting FROM love. They were operating like victorious soldiers who had forgotten why they enlisted.

The Perverse Incentive Trap

This pattern mirrors a story as old as time. Perverse incentives have killed countless businesses. Early success breeds momentum and recognition. But somewhere along the way, they forget why they started and abandon their original mission to chase metrics instead of meaning.

The same thing happens to believers. We start with genuine love for Christ—the wonder of grace, the gratitude for forgiveness. But gradually, we shift from "Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27) to performance-based Christianity. We trade inheritance for effort, sonship for slavery.

We begin measuring success by how much we're making instead of how much we're giving. Growth becomes self-serving rather than God-glorifying. We become more concerned with building our spiritual resume than building His kingdom.

Operating From Victory

Here's what changes everything: Christ's victory means you already possess what you're striving to achieve. The indwelling Holy Spirit isn't waiting for you to get your act together—He's the one getting your act together. Your spiritual freedom isn't a reward for good behavior; it's the foundation that enables good behavior to flourish.

When you truly grasp this—when you operate from the security of Christ's accomplished work rather than the insecurity of your performance—everything changes. Your prayer shifts from begging to thanking, from striving to resting. Your Scripture reading changes from "What must I do?" to "What has He done?" Your service motivation comes under examination: are you serving to earn God's favor or expressing gratitude for favor already received?

You hate what He hates because you first love what He loves. You pursue holiness from a spirit of gratitude, not guilt. You serve from overflow, not obligation.

Remember the joy of your salvation—that moment when you first understood what Christ had done for you. That wasn't the beginning of your effort; it was the celebration of His accomplishment. To be a city built up on a hill, we must first do the first thing: love Him because He first loved us.

Biblical Examples of Fighting From Victory

Scripture is filled with examples of God's people operating from this secure position. David didn't approach Goliath, hoping God would show up—he ran toward the giant, knowing God had already been there. His confidence wasn't in his sling; it was in his God, who had already proven faithful against the lion and the bear.

Joshua at Jericho understood this principle. The victory was accomplished before the marching began. God told him, "I have given Jericho into your hands"—past tense. The walls fell because the battle was already won.

Even Paul, writing from a Roman prison, demonstrated this truth. His letters overflow with joy, not because his circumstances were comfortable but because his freedom wasn't circumstantial. He fought for the security of his position in Christ, not for his own sake.

The Struggle Is Real

Let's be honest: making this shift from fighting FOR victory to battle for victory isn't easy. We're wired for performance. We default to earning. The world teaches us that nothing worthwhile is free of charge.

However, here's the encouragement: if you're struggling with performance-based Christianity, that struggle itself proves that the Holy Spirit is at work in your life. Only living hearts can feel conviction. Only those who are truly alive in Christ sense the tension between grace and works.

Recognizing the pattern is the first step toward breaking it.

Your Final Orders

This week, stop fighting for what you already possess. Scripture reminds us, "If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31). This isn't a question about possibility—it's a declaration of impossibility. When you fight for Christ's victory, the outcome is never in doubt.

Here are your tactical exercises: Before you pray this week, remind yourself: "I am already accepted." Before you serve, declare: "I serve from overflow, not obligation." When you catch yourself slipping back into performance mode, stop and declare: "I am not fighting for acceptance—I fight from acceptance."

Rest in the victory Christ secured. Let that security transform your service from striving to gratitude, from effort to overflow, from making more to giving more.

The enemy wants you exhausted by battles that are already won. Christ wants you energized by victories already secured.

Stand in your freedom. Fight for your victory. Love from His love.

The battle is finished. Now, live like it.

When Vigilance Fades: The Quiet Danger in the Night Watch

A coral snake doesn't warn—it studies your movements, learns your patterns, and waits for a misstep. One quiet bite stops your heart in minutes.

But here's what happens to even the most dedicated watchman: boredom sets in. You count down the hours until relief comes. You become more focused on going to sleep than on what's happening around you. Your focus shifts inward, jeopardizing your surroundings and leaving an opening for attack.

This isn't just theory—let me show you how it got real in my life. Earlier this year, a brother had to check me for "coasting" spiritually—going through the motions at work, checking my phone during sermons, and letting daily Scripture reading slip because "nothing was happening." Two weeks later, I found myself rationalizing choices I'd never have made six months ago. Like a coral snake, my drift was silent. The enemy's patience paid off.

Jesus knew this vulnerability when He commanded:

"Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come." (Matthew 24:42)

He wasn't speaking to soldiers who'd abandoned their posts—He was warning faithful watchmen about the subtle drift during quiet nights when nothing seems to be happening.

Scan for Danger: Self-Diagnostic for the Week

Here's what to scan for in your spiritual watch this week:

• Are you counting down to Sunday instead of engaging daily?

• Has your prayer life become routine rather than intentional?

• Are you more focused on "clocking out" spiritually than on what God might be calling you to notice?

These are the patterns the coral snake studies before it strikes. Standing the night watch demands kingdom patience. It's the kind that stays sharp when hours drag on, keeps your gaze outward when everything in you wants to look inward, and waits for the Commander's call rather than the relief schedule.

Read on for three proven ways to stay sharp and maintain spiritual alertness during the long watch.

The Subtle Drift: Why Most Never See It

The problem is that most of us don't know when our spiritual guard is slipping—we're usually the last to see it.

If you don't know where you're going, any path will take you there. That's why you need updated orders—a clear objective. If you're unsure, stop and check. Even if you think you know, make sure the road signs haven't been flipped. It's all too easy to reach a fork in the road and trust the signpost—until you realize someone turned it. Are you checking your map?

A sentry's most common log entry is, "All conditions normal."

But are they? How well did he check? Was he stretching his legs, scanning for indicators, or just going through the motions—failing to shine his light into the dark spaces? Routine and the mundane can let vulnerabilities hide in plain sight.

True prayer is critical—not just talking at God but letting Him examine your life.

"Search me, O God, and know my heart...see if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." (Psalm 139:23–24)

Ask honestly: Have you gotten over that missed promotion? Did you genuinely forgive the slight you received in the meeting last week, or are you harboring it? Harboring resentment is just that—you're anchoring it in place. You have to unmoor it from the docks and let it drift away.

This week, don't assume "all conditions are normal." Take five minutes to ask God to shine His light in your blind spots.

How to Check Your Guard Systematically

Self-awareness is a powerful tool. If you even suspect you're coasting, that recognition is your first asset—the wake-up call to act.

Countermeasure #1: Revert to Your Training

When you sense spiritual drift, slow down and return to the basics. Revert to your training. A solid foundation corrects the majority of problems.

"Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock."(Matthew 7:24)

Stick to the blueprint God has already provided: daily Scripture reading, real prayer (listening and speaking), genuine fellowship, and simple obedience to what you know is right. Don't complicate it. Foundation first.

Countermeasure #2: Wait for Specific Orders

Just like in combat, specific orders come down from above. After your foundation is re-established, be patient with God's particular direction.

Don't invent your mission or rush into busyness. Listen for His voice through His Word and the prompting of the Holy Spirit. The Commander knows when you're ready for the next assignment, and He will give clear marching orders when the time is right.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding."(Proverbs 3:5)

Countermeasure #3: Stay in Step with the Spirit

You mastered "hurry up and wait" for a reason. Now, apply it spiritually. Paul writes,

"Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit." (Galatians 5:25)

This isn't about forcing ahead or drifting behind. Staying in step means matching His pace—sometimes He moves; sometimes He holds still. Your job is to stay in formation, alert and ready, whether the season is action or waiting.

The Spirit sets the tempo, not your desires or your circumstances.

Drill these three countermeasures until they become your spiritual reflex. When drift threatens, revert to your foundation, pause for His orders, and fall into step with His Spirit—every time.

Conclusion: The Watchman's Mandate

The coral snake teaches us a brutal truth: the enemy thrives on our unnoticed drift. But you are a watchman, not a victim of circumstance. You've been given a mission from the Commander and three proven countermeasures to hold your ground.

The Gospel of Luke echoes the command:

"Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning." (Luke 12:35)

Readiness is a stance, not a mood. Nobody drifts closer to God. Unchecked corners become blind spots. Blind spots become vulnerabilities. Vulnerabilities become breaches.

Jesus gave you direct orders that remain active:

"Keep watch."

Not just tonight, but every night until He returns.

When spiritual boredom sets in, remember: this is the moment for kingdom patience.

When you catch yourself coasting, revert to training. When you need direction, wait for orders. When the tempo changes, stay in step with the Spirit.

Your position matters. Your alertness protects more than yourself.

Keep watch.

Your Mission Continues: Join the Vigil

This post on "Kingdom Patience" brings to a close our month-long deep dive into "Awaken the Watchmen." We've explored the vital importance of vigilance, identified who the watchmen are, and equipped you with practical tools to stand your post. This particular focus on enduring patience empowers you to stay sharp even when the enemy waits in silence.

Don't miss what's next. Next month, Valor & Grace will shift our vigil to a new theme:

"FREEDOM'S COST: Staying Free in Christ,"

where we'll sharpen our focus on the spiritual vigilance required to maintain the liberty we have in Christ. Our new content series, along with a free downloadable guide on spiritual liberty, will be available starting July 1st.

Until then, stay vigilant. Stay grounded.

Stephen Vieting

Valor & Grace

Sounding the Alarm: The Watchman's Charge

The Watchman's Unpopular Duty

Everybody hates a barking dog until a burglar shows up. In times of peace, watchmen are often seen as a nuisance. Their alertness disrupts the comfortable silence. Their warnings are unwelcome when no immediate threat is apparent. Rejecting the watchman's warning is like ignoring a check engine light – a clear indicator that something is wrong. Who would gamble with their family's safety by silencing the alarm or unplugging the smoke detector? All of creation has built-in warning systems, and humans like to ignore them, especially when life feels stable and self-sufficiency disguises risk. When things seem fine on the surface, it's easy to drift from fundamentals and mistake comfort for safety.

The Divine Mandate: Blow the Trumpet (Joel 2:1)

The Watchman's duty extends far beyond seeing danger. They must also sound the alarm and protect the flock. This isn't optional; it's a command, a call to action: "Blow a trumpet in Zion; sound an alarm in My holy mountain!" (Joel 2:1). This is the Watchman's charge – to make the unseen threat known. When the alarm isn't blown, when the warning systems are silenced, lives are at stake. The weight of this duty is profound, reminding us of our accountability if we fail to speak when God commands us to do so. The Prophet Ezekiel warned that every watchman carries a responsibility—if he sees the sword coming and fails to sound the alarm, the blood of the unwarned rests on his hands (Ezekiel 33:6).

The True Cost of Negligence

In every age, physical and spiritual threats follow similar patterns. The walls of Jerusalem only held as long as faithful watchmen stood guard. Decades ago, Pastor David Wilkerson preached "A Call to Anguish," begging men to build walls around their families, to weep over compromise, and to refuse to let the enemy slip in quietly. "You're never going to be able to battle the forces of hell until you've been anguished over what has happened to your church, your home, and your loved ones," he warned.

After 9/11, in a nation desperate for comfort and clarity, Wilkerson called it out again: "The towers have fallen, but we will rebuild." He warned of spiritual amnesia—how, after tragedy, we rush back to business as usual, buying and selling and carrying on instead of truly rebuilding the spiritual walls. "There has never been a nation blessed like America, and yet, after every calamity—after every time He has shaken us—America goes back to its pleasures, back to its business, never really turning to God." History holds stark warnings. Remember the church in Sardis? Situated on their high, seemingly unbreakable hill, renowned for wealth and reputation, they banked on everything but the spiritual reality. Jesus' message was clear: "You have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead." (Rev 3:1). Their perceived security blinded them to the internal rot. Yet, even then, the Commander's order was issued: "Wake up! Strengthen what remains..." (Rev 3:2).

The stakes couldn't be higher. Ask any combat veteran about the cost of complacency. We know what happens when the shiny object on the horizon is ignored by a distracted gunner, when "normal" for Afghanistan means scooters buzzing checkpoint wire, and our rules of engagement demand restraint, even when danger comes too close. Every after-action review tells the story: the warnings were there. Routine blinded us to danger. Where we fail to discipline ourselves, where we let comfort and assumption override vigilance, the cost is always paid in blood. Complacency at a checkpoint or in the pulpit can open the gates to disaster.

Spiritually, it's all the same. Every family without walls, every church where no one stands in the gap, every leader who trades anguish for convenience—eventually, the enemy gets in. What are we buying and selling while dangers gather at the gate? When was the last time you felt the burden Wilkerson described, Godly anguish that drove you to build and defend the perimeter of your home and heart? Have you become numb to the threat, reading spiritual ARRs like they're stories from another world? The battle is not just "out there"—it's at your door. The only question is: Will the trumpet be blown on your watch?

The Watchman's Task: More Than Just Seeing

The spiritual Watchman stands in a critical post within the Body of Christ. Their duty is active, not passive. They are tasked with accurately reading the spiritual landscape and identifying threats, both obvious and subtle. Like a soldier on patrol, they are constantly observing their surroundings and gathering intelligence on the adversary's movements and tactics.

A good spiritual Watchman isn't just observant; they are responsible for reporting their findings and warning the camp. This means communicating what they see – whether it's a doctrinal deviation, a pattern of unhealthy behavior, or an outright attack on truth. They are discerning, grounded in Scripture, prayerful, and possess the courage to articulate their observations clearly and effectively. They serve on various modern "watch posts" – in church leadership, within families guarding their homes, among believers engaging in culture, and most fundamentally, by guarding their hearts and minds against compromise.

Why Standing Watch is Difficult (Matthew 7:14)

Answering the call to sound the alarm is not an easy path. As Jesus said, "Narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it." (Matthew 7:14). Standing for truth, especially when it contradicts comfortable narratives or exposes hidden agendas, often leads to pressure from within and without. There's the internal struggle – fear of rejection, the discomfort of confrontation, the desire to avoid conflict and fit in.

Externally, sounding the alarm can lead to isolation, being called names like "negative" or "alarmist," and encountering significant resistance from others who prefer not to be disturbed. It can feel like being David with only five smooth stones against a giant, seemingly outmatched and ill-equipped to take on powerful, established threats. It is tempting to stay silent and take the path of least resistance.

Armed with Valor and Grace (Joshua 1:9, Matthew 10:16)

But remembrance is key: it was the Lord who delivered us. Our mission requires boldness and courage, not because of our strength, but because of His presence and promise: "Be bold and courageous... for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." (Joshua 1:9). We are called to stand and speak, trusting in His power.

However, this boldness must be tempered. A watchman's warning must be heard to be effective. Our spiritual engagement requires both Valor and Grace. Temper your zeal with grace, for our ultimate goal is restoration, not destruction. Wisdom is crucial in how we speak, like being "wise as serpents and gentle as doves." (Matthew 10:16). It's not just about being loud; it's strategic communication, sometimes patiently planting seeds, sometimes sounding a clear alarm, always aimed at waking up the flock and pointing them toward safety and truth.

The Weight of Silence and the Call

When a spiritual watchman chooses silence or negligence, the consequences are severe. Spiritual lives are lost or stunted, dangerous compromise spreads unchecked, and the flock becomes spiritually weakened and vulnerable. The cost of that silence is always too high.

The call of Joel 2:1 to blow the trumpet is for you. God has placed you where you are for a purpose. Sounding the alarm fulfills your vital role.

Our Call to Action: Stand Your Post

The time for complacency is over. God has equipped you and called you to be a Watchman for such a time as this.

Stand your post. Discern the threats. And when called upon, sound the alarm with both valor and grace. Your vigilance and voice are critical for the health and safety of the flock.

Identifying the Adversary: Why Discernment is the Watchman's Key

The Subtle Enemy

You never expect the first shot to come from inside the wire. The greatest threat to a battalion is never just the enemy outside—it's the Watchman turning a blind eye inside the camp.

In war, the sentry who lets down his guard isn't just weak—he's dangerous. In the Church, when discernment fades, destruction isn't far behind. This isn't just about open rebellion—it's about the silent drift, the compromise that sneaks past our defenses. You see, in warfare, it's rarely the obvious attack that gets you...

Just like lightning, your adversary seeks the easiest path to ground. Field intelligence primed us for familiar patterns. The tell for an explosive was disturbed earth. Detonate one bomb and replace it with another. The enemy rarely attacks head-on; instead, he seeks the point of least resistance, aiming for a compromise that slowly erodes your strength.

The Commander's Order: Be Sober & Vigilant (1 Peter 5:8)

This is precisely why we receive the command: "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." (1 Peter 5:8). The enemy never sleeps, and neither can we.

As C.S. Lewis famously observed, the devil delights in subtle tactics; he would even "cure your chilblains with pride," using small victories to introduce fatal compromise. Your enemy is patient and precise, studying every move you make. We must remain on our guard at all times.

The enemy doesn't attack only our weaknesses; he slowly erodes our strength, looking for the moment our vigilance wavers.

The Enemy Within: The Wolf in Sheep's Clothing (Matthew 7:15)

The threat isn't only outside the wire. While the lion outside is a roaring danger, the enemy within often arrives disguised. Jesus Himself gave the critical warning: "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves." (Matthew 7:15). This is our guiding scripture for understanding deception from within. They don't arrive with fangs bared; they come looking like one of us – like a sheep.

This deception wears the camouflage of familiarity – even someone you remember having his diapers changed in the nursery. This history, this established familiarity, can be the most deceptive mask a wolf can wear.

It makes us overlook the subtle shifts, ambiguity, and erosion of truth because "he's one of us." A clear shepherd guides the sheep, providing direction, not confusion. Do shepherds creep? Slowly introduce "mystery" where doctrine had been settled. Use big words and scholarly opinions to obscure the truth.

The Apostle Paul echoed this timeless warning, speaking to the elders at Ephesus (Acts 20:29-30): "For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves, men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves."

But the core caution comes from our Commander – beware of false prophets in sheep's clothing. Pay attention. They may have "a form of godliness but deny its power." (2 Timothy 3:5). And from such people, scripture commands, turn away!

These are the wolves employing a five-year plan. Just like in Hearts and Minds campaigns, where officers were afraid to call in necessary strikes because it would jeopardize "the mission," these wolves sacrifice people to save programs and institutions. The unchallenged compromise allows systematic takeovers.

It starts with distinct but easily dismissible shifts that nobody notices until the platoon walks into an ambush. Ambiguity is a tactic of deception. Vigilance and prayer are the only bulwarks. The devil always has his man inside and outside the wire.

The Watchman's Radar: Tools for Discernment

It's not just about knowing the enemy; it's about walking closely with The Lord, being washed by the word and renewed by His grace, and staying by His side. Christ is the foundation of spiritual discernment. God equips us with powerful tools to recognize threats of both roaring lions outside and hungry wolves within. For the vigilant Watchman, these tools are essential gear:

1. The Unchanging Compass – Scripture (Acts 17:11): Test everything against scripture. Why? Because the light of God's Word exposes the enemy's tactics and false doctrines. Scripture is the ultimate standard; if something, or someone's teaching, doesn't align with the Book, it's a warning sign.

"Now the Berean Jews... received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true." (Acts 17:11). Be a good Berean. Read and study your Bible consistently. Know what it says so you can test what you hear.

2. The Inner Sensor – Listening to the Holy Spirit (John 16:13): The Spirit guides us into all truth and can give us a sense of unease or confirmation about situations or teachings. This isn't just a "feeling"; it's the spirit's discernment at work in a surrendered heart. Jesus promised, "However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth.." (John 16:13). Cultivate intimacy with the Holy Spirit through prayer and obedience. Learn to recognize His prompting vs. your own emotions or the enemy's deception.

3. Looking at the Fruit – Examining Outcomes (Matthew 7:16-20): Unchallenged compromise fosters takeover. What is the fruit of someone's life, teaching, or actions?

Do they align with biblical character and outcomes? When the money dries up and the pews empty, charlatans always sacrifice a scapegoat. Jesus said, "By their fruit, you will recognize them... Every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit... A good tree cannot bear bad fruit.." (Matthew 7:16-20). Step back and observe the results over time. Do their actions align with their words? Are they building up the Body?

4. The Accountability Network – Trusted Counsel (Proverbs 11:14): No watchman stands alone. God places us in community for protection and wisdom." For lack of guidance, a nation falls. Still, victory is won through many advisers" (Proverbs 11:14).

Trusted counsel from biblical believers helps you process and verify what you are observing."Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed" (James 5:16). This mutual support helps identify chinks in your armor and strengthens the defense.

5. Personal Integrity – Guarding Your Post (1 Timothy 4:16): "Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers" (1 Timothy 4:16).

Vigilance starts at home. A spiritually compromised watchman cannot effectively discern threats to the flock or stand against outside pressure. Prioritize your spiritual disciplines (prayer, Scripture, confession, accountability). Ensure your armor is on, for a compromised Watchman is a compromised post.

TheVeteran's Edge: Radar Sharpened by Experience

Psalm 84:7 promises that "They go from strength to strength; Each one appears before God in Zion," and Your best days are yet to come. Were you in Vietnam, like our brothers who saw the enemy burrow from within and adapt tactics?

Did you serve in the War on Terror, experiencing the asymmetric battlefield of shifting threats and unconventional attacks? These same principles of deception and gradualism are at play in churches and lives today. Your enemy is using the same battle plan nationwide.

Veterans possess heightened awareness, a radar that constantly scans the horizon. While civilian life may not demand the constant, intense vigilance of the battlefield—a state sometimes described as hypervigilance—the underlying capacity for acute observation and pattern recognition remains.

God doesn't discard this capability. He redeems it. He refines that radar, directing it towards the spiritual landscape. This means a veteran is often uniquely attuned to inconsistencies, subtle shifts, and warning signs that elude others who haven't stood watch.

This isn't about being suspicious. It's the Commander repurposing a battle-honed skill for Kingdom defense. It's a spiritual sensitivity, a quickness to recognize potential threats to the flock's holiness that others dismiss, and an urgent bias toward action. This sharpened radar is invaluable for identifying the wolves in sheep's clothing" and the subversive tactics the adversary employs within the Church.

Our Call to Action: Arming Our Discernment

If the Watchman isn't vigilant within, the whole camp is lost—no matter how fortified the wire outside. In your Church, your family, or even your own heart, there is a slow drift. The rationalization. The ambiguous language. This is where the battle rages unseen. God hasn't just called you to survive; the driftless equipped you to reverse it.

Suppose you've been trained to watch for dangers; there is time to watch at home. Your experience as a veteran—your radar, your discomfort with ambiguity—these are the very weapons the Church needs. Don't settle for easy ground. Don't trade conviction for comfort. Sharpen your discernment now—for yourself, your Church, and your brothers who stand the line with you. Stand your post. Sound the alarm when the shift comes—not if, but when. The cost of silence is always too high.

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From strength to strength

Stephen Vieting

Founder Valor & Grace

A Call to Vigilance: Why the Church Needs Its Warrior Watchmen

Vietnam gave us a new term: fragging. While official histories report fragging as targeting superiors, some veterans recall a different kind of battlefield justice—if a sentry fell asleep, his brothers sometimes responded with extreme prejudice. In war, soberness and vigilance are not optional. In the church, spiritual apathy can destroy entire communities.

The Commander’s Order: Be Sober & Vigilant (1 Peter 5:8)

During my last deployment in Afghanistan, two of our teammates were caught exchanging goods for betelnut, a local stimulant. As soon as this was discovered, our entire team underwent a health and comfort inspection. They were stripped of their weapons and placed under constant watch, pending disciplinary action.

My mentor, who manned spy planes in Vietnam, stressed the importance of enemy intelligence. He lives by 1 Peter 5:8:

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

The enemy of your soul never sleeps.

Sober-mindedness means thinking clearly and staying alert. In war, it’s about having current intelligence; in spiritual life, it’s tuning your mind to God’s Word and listening to the still, soft voice warning of the enemy’s approach. It requires discipline, rehearsal, and focus. On any battlefield, the enemy adapts.

Soberness isn’t just given; it’s maintained through rigorous training until it is second nature. A Marine can assemble his weapon blindfolded because he’s trained for the worst-case scenario. A mature Christian relies on the Word of God, not his understanding. On the battlefield of your soul, a lack of soberness causes collateral damage.

What “Vigilance” Means for the Spiritual Warrior

Vigilance means maintaining a constant state of alertness. Who would remove their flak jacket in the middle of a firefight? The enemy is relentless, waiting for you to drop your guard. Discipline, focus, self-control, and dependence on Jesus Christ are our only defenses against the world.

You can rest at camp, trusting those who guard the perimeter—just as we can rest in the completed work of Christ, knowing it is His mighty power that overcomes. Vigilance is a battle posture—keeping your armor on until the mission is complete, not relaxing until the perimeter is secure.

The Divine Armor & The Open Radio Link

“We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, powers, the rulers of the darkness of this age, and spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12)

Does the enemy attack when you’re expecting it? Or when your guard is down?

Remember: we don’t wear our own armor—we wear God’s, forged not in human might but in the victory of Christ.

"Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." (Matthew 26:41)

Keep your radio link open; talk when you must, but always listen.

"Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong." (1 Corinthians 16:13).

The Unique Eye of the Veteran: Recognizing Modern Enemy Tactics

Psalm 84:7 promises, “They go from strength to strength; each one appears before God in Zion.”

Your best days are not behind you. Were you in Vietnam? You know NVA tactics. Our spiritual enemy also uses infiltration and subversion within institutions. The entire body needs your experience. Did you serve post-9/11? You understand asymmetrical warfare, IEDs, and an enemy who adapts. These tactics are at play in churches today.

"Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves." (Matthew 7:15)

Pay attention. Wolves often speak fluent “Christianese.” Ambiguity and deception go hand in hand. Vigilance is your only buffer on this long march.

"Having a form of godliness but denying its power." (2 Timothy 3:5)

Have you wondered why you’re not getting fed? Protect the flock. The Lord wants to reconcile your service with your faith. Your enemy is patient and slick. You know better.

Our Call to Action: Embracing the Watchman’s Post

This is where you, as a veteran and a discerning believer, come in.

"Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you." (1 Timothy 4:16)

Stay faithful. Stay clean. Expect resistance. Deceivers will call you divisive; passive brothers will call you reactionary. Build a wall around what you hold most dear. Stay close to Christ, trust him in the furnace of affliction, and the enemy can’t touch you.

"Yet, if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness... you have delivered your soul." (Ezekiel 3:19)

Sound the alarm. Take a stand. The Lord has prepared you to stand in the evil day.

Valor & Grace is here to equip you for this watch with free resources—our Armor of God 8-week study, monthly dispatches, and daily ammo to keep you in the fight. Reject passivity. Embrace this role.

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