Being aware of what is taking place around me
so I can have the right responses
Keep
my eyes and ears open.
Recognize and heed warning signals.
Choose to do right before I’m tempted.
Tell others of danger.
Stay away from unsafe places.
Used with permission of Character Training Institute
“Alertness is exercising my physical and spiritual senses to recognize the dangers that could diminish the resources entrusted to me.” Power for True Success
A GOD ON ACTIVE ALERT! Our goal and our model is to be like God in character. How amazing and how reassuring to know that God is always on active alert for us! See how those who follow false gods in I Kings 18 must dance, sacrifice, call out loud and long, cut themselves, etc. to get the attention of a god that may be asleep, deep in thought, busy or traveling, or just disinterested; how do religions of the world try to get their gods to be alert to them? Contrast this with the true God of Elijah who answered not only immediately, but amazingly! Distribute these scriptures that reassure us that God is always aware of us and eager to respond: II Chronicles 16:9, Psalm 34:15, Psalm 121, Psalm 139, Proverbs 15:3 – ask each person to find all the wonderful reassurances of God’s alertness to you. Jesus, who perfectly embodied the character of Christ, was always alert to people: while attentive to accompanying an anxious father, Jairus, on the way to heal his daughter, he was still alert to a woman who touched him in faith for her healing (Luke 8:40-56). How many God-opportunities do we miss while we are “on the way” in life (v. 42) and God wants to make us alert to another situation? How do we respond? Even while on the cross, Jesus was alert to the needs of his mother and to the thief next to Him. Hebrews 7:25 promises that He was not only alert to our need for salvation, but now is always on alert to intercede for us.
A+ CHARACTER: Attentiveness is showing the worth of a person or task by giving my undivided concentration. How important to focus on what is in front of you! However, alertness is a balancing quality; while focusing on a person or task, you must also be aware of what is taking place around you. Have your family or small group share some times where attentiveness and alertness must be in balance. Some examples: a mother must focus on preparing a meal or doing laundry, but always alert to what her children are doing; a soldier in Iraq must be doing his job, yet all the time be aware of dangers around him or her; when driving a car, you must focus on the road ahead, but also be alert to sounds from the engine as well as what is in our peripheral vision with other traffic; while a child is enjoying play, he/she must stay alert to a parent’s voice. In our Christian life, how must we be both attentive and alert? For example, while we are working on a job physically, the Holy Spirit alerts us to the needs of a family member or co-worker. The terrorist threats in our country show us we must go on with life, but also always be alert to possible dangers. How does Nehemiah 4:16-23 show both attentiveness to building the wall, and alertness to the threat of enemies?
ALERT! ALERT! Give a visual impact to your lesson on alertness by having each family member or cell member bring something that gives an alertness warning, for example, flashing lights, red flags, buzzers, alarms, yellow lines. Share how they get you to be alert. An alternative would be to show or draw pictures of traffic signs that we must be alert to. Why? What are some “alert” devices in our Christian life? Have individuals share how they have been alerted to a physical or spiritual danger.
Ø Conscience being pricked
Ø Lack of peace
Ø Reaction of authority
Ø Temptation to compromise
Ø Scriptural warning or Scripture brought to mind
Ø Holy Spirit prompting
Ø Warning by a Christian brother or sister
What happens when we ignore the warning alerts? Are there times when we can relax from being alert? What does I Corinthians 10:11-13 give us as warning and promise about staying alert? (Warning: when you let your guard down and think you are ok, you are in danger; promise: God will send you an alert warning and give you a way to stand up in temptation).
David Brainerd, great missionary to the Indians during colonial times, shared: “I have never found it, when I have thought the battle was over and the conquest gained, and so let down my watch, the enemy had risen up and done me the greatest injury.” How can we stay alert and help others in our cell or family stay alert?
ALERT TO WHAT? Although we are to remain always alert, the Bible gives us some special areas where we need to be alert
KEEP YOUR SENSES ALERT! In The Power for True Success (IBLP), the five physical senses are compared to five spiritual senses. Discuss how each of our physical senses can be kept alert and how that benefits us. How can we keep our spiritual senses on alert and how would that benefit us?
Sight: II Kings 6:17, Psalm 119:18
Hearing: Proverbs 8:34, Ecclesiastes 5:1, Hebrews 5:11
Taste: Psalm 34:8
Touch: I John 1:1
Smell: II Corinthians 2:16
THREE PICTURES OF ALERTNESS:
RADAR: Show the front of the character bulletin and ask how radar works and how it helps keep our country safe? RADAR is an acrostic for “radio detecting and ranging.” How can we develop spiritual radar in order to be alert to both dangers and opportunities for the Kingdom of God?
PHEASANT: Ask someone who has hunted pheasants to share his experiences. The pheasant has acute vision, sharp hearing, and a keen sensitivity to vibrations (its own radar system); by connecting the signals, it takes notice of approaching danger and is rarely startled. When cornered or surprised, it takes to the air quickly using its powerful, short, and broad wings.
SOLDIER: Many men and women we know are reserve soldiers, involved in a job, family, and normal life -- then is put on active alert, ready to change their plans at a moment's notice. They volunteer to become a reservist, willing to put all else aside to answer the need and the commander's voice. Perhaps you can have someone share how this has impacted their lives. How can we as Christians be always on "active alert"? What does this require? Read Joshua 8:308 and discuss how alertness is vital in a battle: alertness to enemy’s actions, to opportunity for advancing, to your comrades, to equipment and supplies, to the commander. Since we are in a spiritual battle, how can we be alert in each of these areas?
DEVELOPING PRUDENCE: Proverbs (and other scriptures) talk a great deal about prudence – based on foresight, looking further down the road and responding carefully and wisely. Alertness is one of the necessary components of being prudent. Look up these Proverbs scriptures to see what distinguishes the prudent person; how is alertness required?
· 12:16
· 12:23
· 13:16
· 14:8
· 14:15
· 14:18
· 15:5
· 19:14
· 22:3
· 27:12
BEWARE! We are to be alert to opportunities and others’ needs, but often alertness is an awareness for danger. “Beware” is often used on signs to warn others of danger. It comes from words that mean be wary – be alert, watchful, careful of, on guard. Beware is used often in the King James Version, but a similar meaning is given in other versions. Discuss these scriptures and learn what God wants us to be-wary of and any insights from the scripture that can help us be alert. For a visual reminder, make warning road signs that say, “Beware of __________.” Deuteronomy 6:10-12; 8:10-18 In a time of plenty, do not forget the Lord – remember it is He who give you the ability to get wealth
Judges 13:2-5 Beware of lowering standards God has given you for your children.
II Kings 6:8-10 Beware of disobeying the voice of God through His Word or His prophets.
Matthew 7:15 Beware of false prophets who come looking good but are really ferocious
Matthew 10:17 Beware of men who will seek to accuse you in courts
Matthew 16:5-12 What was wrong with the teaching of the scribes and Pharisees? Why would it be compared to yeast? Why were the disciples warned to be alert to their teaching? Mark 12:38-40 and Luke 12: 1-3; 20:45-47 also gives insight into this.
Luke 12:13-15 Beware of greed; why is that such a danger? What key in this scripture helps us remember?
Acts 13:38-41 Beware of missing what God is doing in the world and in your life. How amazing does this verse say it will be? Why do we not recognize what God is doing?
Philippians 3:2-4 Beware of confidence in outward rituals. Where is our confidence to be?
Colossians 2:8-10 Beware of deceptive philosophies. How can we distinguish them?
II Peter 3:17-18 Beware of being persuaded by lawless men. What is the outcome of that? How do we prevent it?
Helps developed by Deanna Guy