How to Stay Spiritually Alert: What the Bible Says About Keeping Watch

From a message by Jon Alsdorf
At the very end of his letter to the Romans, the apostle Paul pauses to deliver one of His most urgent warnings. In just a few verses, Romans 16:17-20, he calls every believer to stand guard, stay alert, and take the spiritual battle around them seriously. This is not a message for pastors alone. It is a call to every follower of Jesus.

What Does It Mean to "Keep Watch" as a Christian?
Paul opens this passage with a striking phrase: "I appeal to you, brothers." The word "appeal" here carries the weight of a plea. He is begging his readers to pay attention.

To keep watch means to faithfully stand guard. It means remaining spiritually alert to danger and ready to respond. Think of a soldier stationed at a post during wartime. It is not enough to simply be present. You have to be alert.

The New Testament uses several Greek words to capture this idea:

• Scopeo : To fix your eyes on something, to mark it carefully. This is the word used in Romans 16:17.
• Argyno : To exercise constant vigilance. Used in Hebrews 13:7, where leaders are described as those who keep watch over souls.
• Gregorio : To give strict attention. Used in 1 Peter 5:8: "Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour."

These are military words. They paint a picture of someone who understands they are in a real conflict and takes their post seriously.

What Should Christians Be Watching For?
Paul gets specific. He tells believers to watch out for two types of people: those who cause division and those who teach false doctrine.

How Do Divisive People Harm the Church?
A divisive person is someone who separates friends, stirs up discord, and creates factions to further a personal agenda. Often, this behavior is rooted in insecurity or jealousy. And while it might seem like a lesser offense compared to other sins, God takes it seriously.

Proverbs 6:16-19 lists seven things the Lord hates, and the final one on the list is "one who sows discord among brothers." The point of ending the list there is intentional. We tend to see murder or lying as obviously terrible, but divisiveness? We often let that one slide, especially when we are the ones doing it.

"A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends." - Proverbs 16:28

This kind of behavior does not stay in middle school. It shows up at work, in families, and in churches. And sometimes, without realizing it, we become the divisive person because we have been hurt and we give ourselves permission to act in ways that do not reflect the image of Christ.

How Can You Recognize a False Teacher?
False teachers are anyone who teaches doctrine contrary to the Word of God, who misrepresents Scripture, denies or alters it, or avoids it altogether in favor of worldly wisdom.

This is a real and present danger. The internet is full of false teaching. Christian bookstores carry books that are more about what sells than what is true. And when believers do not know their Bibles, they become easy targets.

"Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits." - Matthew 7:15-16

Jesus says the standard for recognizing false teachers is fruit. And the definition of spiritual fruit does not change across the Bible. Paul spells it out clearly:

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law." - Galatians 5:22-23

A teacher who is genuinely walking with Jesus will be growing in love for Him, deepening in the Word, and showing increasing reverence for Scripture over time. A red flag is a teacher who works overtime to explain away the hard parts of the Bible rather than standing on them.

Four Signs of a Divisive Person or False Teacher
Paul gives four identifying marks in Romans 16:18:

• Self-serving. They are motivated by personal gain, not by serving Christ. The Old Testament figure of Balaam is the classic example of a prophet who ultimately compromised his calling for a paycheck.
• Smooth talkers. They know how to use words to make people feel good. Paul himself said he did not come with "lofty speech or wisdom" but with the straightforward message of Christ crucified (1 Corinthians 2:1-5). A gospel that never calls sin what it is may draw crowds, but it is not the full gospel.
• Flatterers. They say what people want to hear. Paul was clear: "We never came with words of flattery... nor did we seek glory from people." (1 Thessalonians 2:5-6). Flattery is manipulative, and when it disappears the moment you stop complying, that tells you everything.
• Deceptive. They mislead, often subtly. John writes: "Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous as he is righteous." (1 John 3:7). Again, the test is fruit over time.

What Should You Do for Spiritual Protection?
Be Uncompromisingly Obedient to Jesus
One of the most powerful things a believer can do is move from being a hearer of the Word to a doer of the Word. When you act on what God says, even when it costs you something, you will feel your spiritual strength grow. Obedience builds spiritual muscle.

Be Skilled at Righteousness, Not Evil
Paul says in Romans 16:19: "I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil." The word translated "wise" here carries the meaning of being a skilled craftsman, someone who has mastered their trade. The goal is not to become an expert in evil so you can recognize it. The goal is to become so excellent at what is good that evil becomes obvious by contrast.

What Happens When Believers Stay Spiritually Alert?
Paul closes this passage with a promise that should stir something in every believer:

"The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet." - Romans 16:20

God's plan for winning the spiritual battle is not a dramatic display from the sky. It is you. He intends to crush Satan under your feet, at your workplace, in your neighborhood, in your school, through the gospel that is alive and active in your life.

This does not happen when we are spiritually asleep. It happens when we take our post seriously, build our strength through obedience and the Word, and stay alert to what is happening around us.

Life Application
This week, take one concrete step toward becoming a more diligent spiritual watchman. Open your Bible and spend time in it daily, even if only for ten minutes. Let the Word itself be your standard, not a podcast, not a bestseller, not a social media personality. If you are already in the Word regularly, ask yourself whether you are also acting on what you read. Obedience is where spiritual strength is built.

Ask yourself these questions as you go through your week:

• Am I spending enough time in Scripture to recognize when something I am hearing does not line up with it?
• Is there any area of my life where I have been acting as a divisive person, even if I have justified it because I was hurt?
• Am I being a doer of the Word, or just a hearer? What is one thing God has shown me that I have not yet acted on?
• Where in my daily life might God want to crush Satan under my feet if I would simply stay alert and be willing?

The Holy Spirit is ready. His strength is not diminished. The question is whether we are willing to take our post seriously and let Him work through us.