The Power of Vigilance

By Wale Arowojolu

We wrestle against unseen spiritual forces, but how do we engage them in a combat? How can the visible take on invisible forces? Isn’t it an unfair advantage that we have to engage an adversary we cannot see? What if he takes us unawares when we are not paying attention or when we are too tired to notice any awkward movement? How much attention can we give to what is happening around us to be able to preempt his moves?
The dynamics of this combat and rules of engagement are uncommon and unconventional because it occurs simultaneously on two separate planes—the visible and the invisible. The question is, how do we effectively handle the interface to secure victory?
The book in your hand outlines the operational dynamics for disarming the adversary and keeping him at arm’s length. It draws from 1st Peter 5:8-9 and exposes the nature of spiritual combat in the material world. Although we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, spiritual forces cannot operate without their express or implicit cooperation. You will need to be vigilant to be able to deal with issues on this level!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Wale Arowojolu
• Release date: May 13, 2021
• ISBN: 9789789911622

Wale Arowojolu

Wale Arowojolu is an author, a leadership and a relationship coach. He has written six books, a regular speaker at confer- ences and seminars.His mission is to persuade an insatiably aspiring generation to lead purposeful lives.Educated at the University of Cambridge, Lagos Business School and Lagos State University, Wale Arowojolu presides over Hilltop House—a divinely inspired idea dedicated to helping people, organisations and communities actualize their dreams and aspirations.He is the convener of The Aspire Summit—a platform that empowers young people with the finest of resources and challenges them to live their best life yet.He is also the founder of The Wisdom Advantage Network (TWAN)—a network of distinguished men and women of influence committed to society’s progress and wellbeing of people.Wale currently serves in the Redeemed Christian Church of God.He is happily married to Kemi and they are blessed with three wonderful children.He lives in Lagos, Nigeria.

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Wale Arowojolu

THE POWER OF VIGILANCE

STRATEGY FOR KEEPING YOUR ADVERSARY AT ARM’S LENGTH

First published by Hilltop House 2021

Copyright © 2021 by Wale Arowojolu

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise without written permission from the publisher. It is illegal to copy this book, post it to a website, or distribute it by any other means without permission.

Wale Arowojolu asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.

Wale Arowojolu has no responsibility for the persistence or accuracy of URLs for external or third-party Internet Websites referred to in this publication and does not guarantee that any content on such Websites is, or will remain, accurate or appropriate.

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This book is dedicated to the living in the hope that everyone who comes in contact with it will know the grace of the LORD Jesus Christ that sets people free from the harassments and manipulations of the adversary’s deceptive scheme. Although he is a defeated foe, he still goes about to devour the careless and clueless. But the good news is that you no longer have to live under the dominion of sin because If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed (John 8:36).

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

1 Peter 5:8-9

Contents

Preface

Acknowledgement

1. Be Wise

2. Hidden Behind Legitimate Desires

3. Helpless Without Your Cooperation

4. Wolf In Sheep’s Clothing

5. Yet A Little Sleep

6. Standing In The Evil Day

7. Resisting The Adversary

About the Author

Also by Wale Arowojolu

Preface

This book outlines the operational strategy for disarming the adversary, the devil, before his planned attack. It teaches the wisdom you need to effectively engage him in combat without the use of conventional weapons of war.

The Bible tells us that our warfare is …against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.¹

If we wrestle against unseen spiritual forces, how do we engage them in a combat? How can the visible take on the invisible? Isn’t it an unfair advantage that we have to engage an adversary we cannot see? What if he takes us unawares when we are not paying attention or when we are too tired to notice any untoward movement? How much attention can we give to what is happening around us to be able to preempt his moves?

The nature of this combat and the rules of engagement are uncommon and unconventional. If the adversary cannot stop us from being saved, he will try to stop us from reaching our full potential.

He wants us to end our journey unprofitable, unproductive, unfruitful and frustrated. Consequently, it will be unwise to say that because we are saved, we can indulge ourselves a little.

Salvation is not an event. It is a journey and we must keep moving with unbroken focus till we see God in glory.²

If the devil cannot stop you from being a believer he will try to make you ineffective. He will lower your standards and bring you to the place of zero spiritual consequence. This is that place where you conform to the world until you lose your spiritual identity and get swallowed up. Effectively, it is that place where you have successfully denied Christ.³

The adversary planned to bring Peter to the place of zero spiritual consequence. But for the prayer of Jesus, Peter would have departed from the faith he embraced and propagated. This is why we are encouraged to watch and pray earnestly so we do not enter into temptation.

Unless the victory secured by Jesus is appropriated through faith, we cannot partake of all that it is meant to deliver to us. Faith is an obedient walk and not mere mental accent.

Even though God so loved us that He gave His only begotten son for our redemption,⁴ it is only if we embrace His love that we can truly experience its transforming power.⁵

The Bible clearly points out that much of what needs to be done for us to walk in victory has been accomplished by the sacrifice of Jesus.⁶ Consequently, we are not to fight for victory but from the place of victory. Jesus already fixed sin. And He did it once and for all.

The dynamics of walking in the secured victory thus requires that we are fully armoured to be able to stand against the wiles and darts of the adversary who still goes about in search of whom to devour.⁷

One man—Jesus—secured the victory, but we will have to appropriate the finished work of Christ to be able to partake of it.

"For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)

"Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.

For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.⁸

The implication is that except we receive, believe and effectively obey Him, we cannot walk in that victory.

Now, my point is this: the real contention is not about the veracity of the secured victory. That is forever settled. It is rather about whether you are aware of what Jesus did through the sacrifice of Himself for you; the implications in this life and in the one to come; and whether you are appropriating it as you should.

The scripture refers to this as the good fight of faith⁹ because for you to walk in the victory, you have