1Th 5:5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
1Th 5:6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
1Th 5:7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.
1Th 5:8 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.
Today, when the word “sober” is used, it is the same conversation with alcohol, drugs, and any other mind-altering substance. And even though Paul uses words like “drunken” in the verses above, or in Ephesians 5:18, the Apostle Paul desires that their minds be ‘under the influence’ of the Holy Word of God. But Paul uses the similarity between a ‘mind-altering’ substance, and living under the way, will, and life of this evil world. This ‘drunkenness’ that Paul refers to is in contrast to living the Life of Christ, and being “of the day,” and “of Light.” And the significant reason why a reference to ‘drunkenness’ is used in teaching the Saints to be “Children of Light, and the Children of the Day.” And Paul says that we who are “of the Day,” should be “sober,” but most importantly; that they ‘put on’ something used in battle, and to not only ‘protect them,’ but can be used as “salvation” from the effects of the ‘night’s’ designed way to destroy the functional life of the Saint.
Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Rom 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
Furthermore, this type of ‘salvation’ is provided for the Saint by his Father, but this provision ought to be understood and appreciated by the Saint who understands the necessity for this salvation from this world’s “darkness.” But this type of ‘understanding’ comes from a “renewed mind,” and a mind that operates upon the “things that be of God.” Those “things” are the “Spiritual things” that are according to the will of God, or in other words; ‘Word of God things.’ But this is where the Saint is taught of God how to “think,” and that is by a “renewing” of our minds, and this ‘transforming’ of our minds is not done the moment we become justified unto eternal life, but after the Saint has the ‘desire’ to be “a living sacrifice,” and to be “able” to “prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” This is how our Father would have the Saints to “think,” and to not think the way he used to but to now think “soberly.”
Act 26:24 And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad.
Act 26:25 But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness.
2Co 5:13 For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God: or whether we be sober, it is for your cause.
Tit 2:12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
Therefore, when the members of His Body are not ‘thinking soberly,’ it could be said that they are ‘out of their Spiritual mind,’ or that they are functionally ‘beside themselves.’ The words we use for someone who should be thinking with the mind ‘we are accustomed’ to are, that they are ‘not themselves,’ or ‘not thinking clearly.’ But this is actually the case when referring to our sanctified position IN the Body of Christ, we are part of His Body, this is our identification, but thinking like this world, walking after this world, and laboring with this world is contrary to “that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” And when we are walking contrary to the will of God, (whether we want to admit we are conformed to this world or not) we are actually “beside ourselves” concerning our sanctified life as Saints. But it is our Father’s Word that ‘teaches’ us HOW to think, how to “deny,” and how to “live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.”
Tit 2:1 But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:
Tit 2:2 That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience.
Tit 2:3 The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;
Tit 2:4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,
Tit 2:5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.
Tit 2:6 Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded.
However, when we begin to renew our minds, and become “transformed,” this world will view the “Son” as being “beside ourselves.” And will be looked upon as “mad,” and out of our minds by them. And this is because we are now no longer “conformed” to this world, and we are ‘out of fellowship’ with it, and this is all due to the ‘renewed thinking’ of the Saint. This thinking is of ‘godly soberness of mind,’ and with sober thinking, comes sober living as we see being taught in Titus 2:12. And as we can see, our Father desires that we be of a sober mind for His intended purpose. But Satan also knows that a Son operating upon the Spiritual mind of God, and thinking soberly, is a dangerous threat to him. The sober minded Son knows that he is in a battle, and he also knows ‘who’ his adversary is; and that is this world, and Satan himself.
1Ti 3:2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
1Pe 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
1Pe 5:9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
1Pe 5:10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
Finally, the Son being of a godly sober mind is vital, and is ‘of note’ among the Angelic realm, and this is for various reasons of education, and because Satan and the Angelic realm knows that this Son is a “soldier” of the Father, and he walks with a sober mind, and knows that Satan also views him as an adversary as well! The sober minded Son also ‘knows’ that in this ‘battle’ he cannot lose, unless he stops operating upon the “Armor of God.” Satan’s only weapon against the Son, is the Son ‘opposing himself,’ and actually being his own worst enemy, and defeating himself. And as 1st Peter 5:8 refers to Satan as a “roaring lion,” and he seeks to “devour,” but sad to say, he doesn’t have to ‘seek out’ many Saints, they just give themselves unto him at his will. But we are to be “strengthen,” “perfect,” “stablished,” and “blameless” by our Father’s Holy Word, and by it, we can now “think” soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.”
1Pe 1:13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
1Pe 1:14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:
1Pe 1:15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
1Pe 1:16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
Rod Jones
SUPPLY OF GRACE 
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