05/01/2019
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Foundational Scriptures for the Call of the
watchmen/watchwomen
Those
who are being used of the Lord to sound the alarm are often ridiculed, mocked
or totally ignored by the mainstream media. The challenge we have faced is to
see through the confusion in order to see God's plan at work.
Because
of this it is very important for those called to be watchmen/watchwomen know
the Scriptures inside and out so the TRUTH will clear up all confusion.
Study and do your best to present yourself to God approved, a workman
[tested by trial] who has no reason to be ashamed, accurately handling and skillfully teaching the word of
truth. 2 Timothy 2:15
Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I was compelled to write to you [urgently] appealing that you fight strenuously for [the defense of] the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints [the faith that is the sum of Christian belief that was given verbally to believers]. For certain people have crept in unnoticed [just as if they were sneaking in by a side door]. They are ungodly persons whose condemnation was predicted long ago, for they distort the grace of our God into decadence and immoral freedom [viewing it as an opportunity to do whatever they want], and deny and disown our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. Jude 3, Jude 4
Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I was compelled to write to you [urgently] appealing that you fight strenuously for [the defense of] the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints [the faith that is the sum of Christian belief that was given verbally to believers]. For certain people have crept in unnoticed [just as if they were sneaking in by a side door]. They are ungodly persons whose condemnation was predicted long ago, for they distort the grace of our God into decadence and immoral freedom [viewing it as an opportunity to do whatever they want], and deny and disown our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. Jude 3, Jude 4
If
you point out these instructions to the brothers and sisters, you will be a
good servant of Christ Jesus, constantly
nourished [through study] on the words of the faith and of the good [Christian]
doctrine which you have closely followed. But have nothing to do with
irreverent folklore and silly
myths. On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness [keeping
yourself spiritually fit]. For physical training is of some value; but
godliness (spiritual training) is of value in everything and in every way, since it holds
promise for the present life and for the life to come. This is a faithful and trustworthy saying worthy of full
acceptance and approval.It
is for this that we labor and strive [often called to account], because we have
fixed our [confident] hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all people,
especially of those who believe [in Him, recognize Him as the Son of God, and
accept Him as Savior and Lord].
Keep commanding and teaching these things. Let no one look
down on [you because of] your youth, but be an example and set a pattern for the believers in speech, in conduct, in
love, in faith, and in [moral] purity. Until I come, devote yourself to public
reading [of Scripture], to preaching and to teaching [the sound doctrine of
God’s word]. Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, [that special
endowment] which was intentionally bestowed on you [by the Holy Spirit] through
prophetic utterance when the elders laid their hands on you [at your
ordination]. Practice and work
hard on these things; be absorbed in them [completely occupied in your
ministry], so that your progress will be evident to all. Pay close attention to
yourself [concentrate on your personal development] and to your teaching;
persevere in these things [hold to them], for as you do this you will ensure
salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you. 1 Timothy 4:6-16
Just as the Lord has raised
up watchmen and watchwomen in this hour to pray for this nation and report what
they see in the distance, so are there secular prophets and watchmen who are
broadcasting false information and biased predictions aimed at undermining the
agenda of heaven. Many of these false prophets manipulate the facts and skew
our perceptions in order to keep us from learning the truth.
Ministers of Satan
and False gospels are leading many into everlasting destruction. Deception in
the Church by its very nature is hard to detect by design. Demons teach
doctrine inside and outside the Church and seek to move the masses
away from the truth. Nothing short of being “born again” and staying in the
word can keep us aware of the various issues related to truth. Jesus and his
apostles constantly warned the believers there would be FALSE TEACHERS and
FALSE DOCTRINES in this world.
I
am jealous for you with a godly jealousy because I have promised you to one
husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ. But I am afraid that, even
as the serpent beguiled Eve by his cunning, your minds may be corrupted and led away from the simplicity of
[your sincere and] pure devotion to Christ. For [you seem willing to allow it]
if one comes and preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you
receive a different spirit from the one you received, or a different gospel
from the one you accepted. You tolerate all this beautifully [welcoming the
deception]. Yet I consider myself in no way inferior to the [so-called]
super-apostles. But even if I am unskilled in speaking, yet I am not
[untrained] in knowledge [I know what I am talking about]; but we have made
this evident to you in every way, in all things.Or did I
[perhaps] sin by humbling myself so that you might be exalted and honored, because I preached God’s
gospel to you free of charge? I robbed other churches by accepting [more than
their share of] financial support for my ministry to you. And when I was with
you and ran short [financially], I did not burden any of you; for what I needed
was fully supplied by the brothers (Silas and Timothy) who came from Macedonia
(the church at Philippi). So I kept myself from being a burden to you in any
way, and will continue to do so. As the truth of Christ is in me, my boast [of
independence] will not be silenced in the regions of Achaia (southern Greece). Why;
because I do not love you [or wish you well, or have regard for your welfare]?
God knows [that I do]!But what I am doing I will keep doing,
[for I am determined to keep this independence] in order to cut off the claim
of those who want an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the things
they brag about. For such men are counterfeit apostles, deceitful workers,
masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, since Satan himself
masquerades as an angel of light. So it is no great surprise if his servants also
masquerade as servants of righteousness, but their end will correspond with
their deeds. 2 Corinthians 11:2-15
While
Jesus was seated on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately,
and said, “Tell us, when will this [destruction of the temple] take place, and
what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end (completion, consummation)
of the age?” Jesus answered, “Be careful that no one misleads you [deceiving you and leading you into
error]. For
many will come in My name [misusing it, and appropriating the strength of the name which belongs
to Me], saying,
‘I am the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed),’ and they will mislead many. Matthew 24:3-5
Be
wary of false preachers who smile a lot, dripping with practiced sincerity.
Chances are they are out to rip you off some way or other. Don’t be impressed
with charisma; look for character. Who preachers are is the main thing, not what they say. A genuine leader will
never exploit your emotions or your pocketbook. These diseased trees with their
bad apples are going to be chopped down and burned. Matthew 7:15-20 MSG
But
there were also lying prophets
among the people then, just as there will be lying religious teachers among
you. They’ll smuggle in destructive divisions, pitting you against each
other—biting the hand of the One who gave them a chance to have their lives
back! They’ve put themselves on a fast downhill slide to destruction, but not
before they recruit a crowd of mixed-up followers who can’t tell right from
wrong. 2 Peter 2:1-2 MSG
I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who
is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom:
preach the word [as an official messenger]; be ready when the time is right and
even when it is not [keep your
sense of urgency, whether the opportunity seems favorable or unfavorable,
whether convenient or inconvenient, whether welcome or unwelcome]; correct
[those who err in doctrine or behavior], warn [those who sin], exhort and encourage [those who are growing
toward spiritual maturity], with inexhaustible patience and [faithful]
teaching. For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine and accurate instruction [that
challenges them with God’s truth]; but wanting
to have their ears tickled [with something pleasing], they will accumulate for
themselves [many] teachers [one after another, chosen] to satisfy their own
desires and to support the
errors they hold, and will turn their ears away from the truth and will wander
off into myths and man-made
fictions [and will accept the unacceptable]. But as for you, be clear-headed in
every situation [stay calm and cool and steady], endure every hardship [without
flinching], do the work of an evangelist, fulfill [the duties of] your
ministry. For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time
of my departure [from this world] is at hand and I will soon go free. I have fought the good and worthy and noble fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith
[firmly guarding the gospel against error]. In the future there is reserved for
me the [victor’s] crown of righteousness [for being right with God and doing
right], which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that [great]
day—and not to me only, but also to all those who have loved and longed for and welcomed His appearing. 2 Timothy 4:1-8
The
hard-working farmer [who labors to produce crops] ought to be the first to
receive his share of the crops. 2 Timothy 2:6
A watchman/watchwoman
is someone who is committed to being alert and awake, always ready to warn of
approaching danger. He/She has clear eyes focused on the enemy’s advances and
stands at his/her post, poised to sound the alarm and warn the people he/she
serves. Watchmen work in shifts so that the world’s safety can be insured and
the watch will be constant. It is a high calling and not to be taken lightly or
lazily. In truth, the safety of the entire world depends on sharp eyes and a
concerned heart.
While we may not
be under the threat of physical invasion today, or living in literal walled
fortresses, Satan and his workers seek to destroy and lay siege to the church
today through false teachers and ungodly philosophies. He seeks to lead us into
false forms of worship and unbiblical teachings that masquerade as truth. He
has engineered and orchestrated a full-out assault on the people of God today,
complete with deceptive false ministers and non-prophets who no longer view His
Word as the primary basis for true doctrine. The church is definitely under
attack and, therefore, definitely and desperately in need of watchmen/watchwomen
in this age.
Let your heart be
encouraged by a story in the Old Testament that sheds light on God’s higher
purpose and strategy to get His word out through a watchman.
In
1
Kings 22:13-37, the story is told of how
God placed a lying spirit into the prophets of King Ahab's court, specifically
so he would be "enticed" to listen—and thus be destroyed. Ahab had
continually ignored the voice of the Lord and was rebellious in his heart.
Because God saw the force of Ahab's false prophets at work, He used their own
self-interest and greed against them. The king's ego led him to believe the
false narrative, and he went into battle without the Lord's blessing.
Only one prophet,
Micaiah, discerned the true voice of the Lord and warned Ahab not to go. Going
against all the other false prophets, he risked his life to be faithful to
God's word. It so enraged Ahab, he sided with his court and marched straight
into a death trap. Just one word from a true prophet of God was all that was
needed to institute God's plan, and those who opposed Him were destroyed.
Scriptures
tell us that God hardens hearts in order that His power might be seen {Romans
9:17}. Even as we pray for hearts
to be softened towards the Father's will and heaven's plan, God sees those
whose hearts are unregenerate and fixed against Him. He uses their own
self-inflated importance and pride to accomplish His purposes.
We
can take courage in this because God's enemies will be destroyed. As only He
can do, His strategy draws them right into a corner with no way out. Those who
speak truth will be vindicated, and God's plans will succeed. It doesn't matter
how big the secular media giants are; God's Word is bigger. Even as we watch
the false prophets of the day lie and manipulate the facts for their own gain,
a trap is being set. God is pulling the strings and determining the outcome.
Our part is to continue to pray and intercede for truth to be heard and God's
will to be done.
To
the watchmen of the hour, God says, "Declare My Word! Report the truth! Do
not fear the enemy or those who prophesy against Me. Do not retaliate, but let
My Word accomplish its purposes. Yours is to sound the alarm and trust My
plan."
Surely the Lord God does nothing without revealing His secret plan [of the judgment to come] to His servants the prophets. Amos 3:7
God has always
warned of coming judgment in order that people may choose to change their
behavior and avoid it.
Jonah announced the
destruction of Nineveh, but judgment was postponed following repentance. When
later generations of Ninevites reverted to paganism and wickedness, the warning
of Nahum was carried out against them.
6. Amos of the downfall
of Aram (Syria), Philistia, Tyre, Edom, Ammon, Moab, Judah, and Israel {Amos 1 and Amos 2}.
Various prophets
were told in advance about the captivities of the chosen people, and they came
to pass because the warnings were disregarded.
The
enemies of God will not prevail. Though their reports may be outrageous and
their godless rants filled with contempt, it is the prayers and proclamations
of God's prophetic people that will signal heaven's response for justice.
The
strategy is simple: Trust in God. Declare His Word and Watch His enemies fall.
Their own deception will take them down.
The
coming of the [Antichrist, the lawless] one is through the activity of Satan,
[attended] with great power [all kinds of counterfeit miracles] and [deceptive]
signs and false wonders [all of them lies], and by unlimited seduction to evil and with all the deception of
wickedness for those who are perishing, because they did not welcome the love
of the truth [of the gospel] so as to be saved [they were spiritually blind,
and rejected the truth that would have saved them]. Because of
this God will send upon them a misleading influence, [an activity of error and
deception] so they will believe the lie, in order that all may
be judged and condemned who did
not believe the truth [about their sin, and the need for salvation through
Christ], but instead took
pleasure in unrighteousness. 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12
In Ezekiel 3 and 33 we learn about another watchman called by
God; who was a priest-prophet to Judah during the 70 year captivity in Babylon.
We
can learn four very important things from the above verses about Ezekiel’s
watchman position:
1. God appointed this ministry
to Ezekiel
2. Watchman position contains
heavy accountability
3. Obedience is mandatory
4.
The watchman is called to warn both the wicked and the
righteous
Both
Ezekiel
3 and 33’s accounts of Ezekiel’s call
to be a watchman are then followed with examples of this ministry in action.
God would speak to His chosen watchman and he, in turn, confronted, warned, and
presented to the people what he was instructed by the Lord. Ezekiel proved to
be an obedient watchman even in the face of Israel not acknowledging the vital
nature of his job.
Today,
you may not be called to the office of a prophet, BUT you and I need to share
with others, even warning them of the words God has delivered in the Bible. We
must be faithful in the calling God has given all of us who are in His family
to warn others of the perilous consequences of unrighteous living and unbelief.
There are so many souls hanging in the balance and the reality is every bit as
serious as it was in Ezekiel’s day. We must tell the unbelievers, fellow
believers entering into sin, and fellow churchgoers of the importance of accepting
Christ and having RIGHT relationships with God.
At
times and in certain situations, we must also be willing to confront false
teachers with boldness that comes from knowing the TRUTH of God’s Word. Sadly,
we must still stand ready to blow that trumpet on false teachings that will
lead others astray if not detected, corrected and halted by application of
God’s Word. In short, the enemy’s sword is still drawing blood and we need to
warn of its coming.
A true watchman/watchwoman will, “Cry aloud, Not hold back; Lift up their
voice like a trumpet, and declare to God’s people and
those who have yet to follow the Lord their transgression}. Isaiah 58:1
Watchmen/women NEEDED in the church still today
In the New Testament we learn that there
are several roles in the “Church” that qualify as watchmen/women. Throughout
the New Testament there are several passages about the qualifications of
pastors and leaders in the church. In Hebrews 13:17 we read the importance of respecting the roles of the leaders in the
“Church”.
Obey your [spiritual] leaders and submit to
them [recognizing their authority over you], for they are keeping watch over
your souls and continually
guarding your spiritual welfare as those who will give an account [of their
stewardship of you]. Let them do this with joy and not with grief and groans, for this would be of no
benefit to you. Hebrews 13:17
It is made abundantly clear that you must
submit to the leaders in the “Church” that have been called by God to watch
over your souls and help you in times of spiritual warfare. These “Church”
leaders will have to give an account to God for how they took care of you. In verse 7 we are told to “remember those who have the rule over us” which is
clearly a reference to church leadership and those in the church with teaching
and pastoral positions. If we submit to the authority of a good watchful leader
who abides in TRUTH and understand that they are “gifts” to the church {Ephesians 4} for our benefit, it will be well with us.
It is clear from reading Hebrews 13 that
the spiritual leaders in the church are to be “watchmen/women” over and to the
people of God. From this scripture we also learn to see the qualities of a good
shepherd.
Jesus Christ is the ultimate “Shepherd of
the Sheep” {Hebrews 13:20; Psalm 23} who calls pastors to function as shepherds to those whom God has
entrusted to their spiritual care.
Therefore, I strongly urge the elders among
you [pastors, spiritual leaders of the church], as a fellow elder and as an
eyewitness [called to testify] of the sufferings of Christ, as well as one who
shares in the glory that is to be revealed: shepherd and guide and
protect the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion,
but voluntarily, according to the will
of God; and not [motivated] for shameful gain, but with wholehearted
enthusiasm; not lording it over those assigned to your care [do not be arrogant
or overbearing], but be examples [of Christian living] to the flock [set a
pattern of integrity for your congregation]. And when the Chief Shepherd
(Christ) appears, you will receive the [conqueror’s] unfading crown of glory. 1 Peter 5:1-4
In 1 Peter 5 we learn the relationship between Jesus Christ and the elders or
pastors involves being an “overseer” or “watchman/woman”. In 2 Timothy 4:5 we read:
But as for you, be
clear-headed in every situation [stay calm and cool and steady], endure every
hardship [without flinching], do the work of an evangelist, fulfill [the duties
of] your ministry.
With all the corruption in the world and even in the “Church”, God is calling men
and women to step up to the plate and be ones who will stand out from the rest
crying out with a loud voice against the evil rising up to destroy God’s
people.
Further study of the New Testament gives
each of us as believers the call to be watchmen/women who will live the life
God wants us to live and be a willing vessel to proclaim the TRUTH of God’s
Word. We are told to be watchful, sober {1 Peter 5:8}, and alert and even recognize the enemy’s devices {2 Corinthians 2:11} and to warn others to step away from sin
and satanic deception:
My brothers and sisters, if anyone among
you strays from the truth and
falls into error and [another] one turns him back [to God], let
the [latter] one know that the one who has turned a sinner from the error of
his way will save that one’s soul from death and cover a multitude of sins
[that is, obtain the pardon of the many sins committed by the one who has been
restored]. James 5:19-20
Jesus Christ our Lord is the ultimate
Watchman and “Chief Shepherd” {1 Peter 5:4}. He left a brilliant pattern for us to follow of One who knew
no compromise as He proclaimed the truth. By doing that, He displayed “salt”
and “light” to fallen mankind and then asked us to be those same preserving and
illuminating elements in the world we live in. {Matthew 5:13-14}
Jesus Christ never backed down when it came
to taking a tough stand against the CORRUPT teachings and FALSE religion in His
day. He clearly declared to the world the TRUTH about hell, Satan, the horrors
of sin and the coming judgment.
If you call yourself a “Christian” {which
means Christ Like}, then you need to follow the example He gave of what a true
Watchman/woman is to be. If you truly want to wear His name proudly in your
life it is time to take up your cross and follow Him to the end as a voice to a
lost and dying world.
Forever in Christ Jesus service,
Scriptures
for further study about watchmen and watchwomen
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