What is a watchman called to do?
Bring the warnings of the Lord to sinning people
We saw this in the ministry of Ezekiel. God sent him to give warning to the house of Israel.
“Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore hear the word out of My mouth, and give them warning from Me Ezek 3:17
So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me Ezek 33:7.
Here, we see the prophet saddled with the responsibility of bringing warning to God’s people so as to prevent them from facing the judgment of the Lord. Prophets are referred to as watchmen because of the role they play. They are God’s mouthpieces to the people. They bare the mind of the Lord to the people they are sent to so that they can repent and turn to the Lord.
God is raising us as watchmen who should warn the wicked of impending judgment should they fail to repent. As watchmen, we are also to courageously take a bold stand and speak out for the right when others around us might be compromising.
Bring glad tidings (the gospel)
Watchmen are also commissioned to bring glad tidings (good news) to the people. They are expected to be people who will passionately declare the provision of the Lord through the gospel. They are to preach the word of salvation (do evangelism) and reap a great harvest.
It is time for us to catch the vision of evangelism afresh. We must proclaim to people that Jesus has paid the price for their sins. They can be forgiven and cleansed through the blood of Jesus Christ. They can find peace and rest through the salvation that Christ offers.
As faithful watchmen, we must make sure that our family, friends, acquaintances and even stangers get to hear about the gospel of Jesus Christ.
How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth! Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing: for they shall see eye to eye, when the Lord shall bring again Zion Isaiah 52: 7-8.
Intercede
Watchmen are people who have been saddled with the responsibility of intercession. It is indeed a noble and high calling to tarry in God’s presence on behalf of men.
What makes our soul winning and other preaching efforts fruitful is intercession. Watchmen are people who take up the task of intercession with joy and they don’t give up in prayer until they see results.
I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the Lord, keep not silence, And give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth Isaiah 62:6, 7.
Receive divine visions and revelation
I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved. And the Lord answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it Habakkuk 2:1, 2
He is on the watchtower (a vantage position to see the evil things that are happening in the land). He cannot pretend not to see. He must declare what he can see with his eyesight and what has been revealed to him (insight).
Because of what he sees, he cannot keep silent. We must watch out for trends around us. We must study emerging cultures, teachings and philosophies that are diametrically opposed to the word of God.
When you are silent, it could be because you have not seen anything or you are not seeing fully or what you are seeing has not gripped your heart.
Insight: He must see through the physical and know the root of the problem as revealed by the word of God and the Spirit of God. Why do people act in ungodly ways? The Bible gives the response: It is because they have unregenerate hearts.
It took insight for Paul to know that the damsel who was making a right proclamation about them was possessed with a spirit of divination (Acts 16: 16-18)
Foresight: If they continue in sin what will happen? And how glorious will their future be if they return to the Lord…where there is no vision, the people perish…
Hindsight: The watchman does not forget the past dealings of God. The watchmen keep calling men to return to the ancient landmarks.
Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein. Also I set watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not hearken Acts 16:6, 7.
Receive visions for revival
Like nursing mothers, they feed the revival visions that God gives them by meditating, praying and acting on them until they begin to see the light of knowledge of the glory of God breaking into their domains.
Being able to contract divine information helps them to be able to discern the present needs of God's people and the current the move of God.
No comments:
Post a Comment