It has been sometime since I have sat down and felt instructed to write to you. Tonight, I find myself with a burning message on my heart. Please read it.
Isaiah 21:11 "Watchman, watchman what of the night?
2009 is quickly drawing to a close. 2010 will be here sooner than many of us realize. Times continue to change at a more rapid pace than ever before. I have identified one thing has not changed, can't change and will never change - everyone needs a watchman for their soul.
Now that you have read this far, I challenge you to keep reading. Be forewarned, I offer this to you with great intent. I intend to do one of two things. I intend to either challenge your thought process on this subject or to solidify and reinforce it. I intend to not leave this a gray area. It must be clear.
Initial salvation is only the beginning of your relationship with God. I am careful and quick to instruct new babies in Christ on this very important topic that so many others don't. We are terribly foolish to think, the moment we come to God and He fills us with His spirit that we have reached the spiritual climax of our lives. It is not! You are now saved, not mature. Numeric age does not qualify you for maturity. Just because your name is written in the Lamb's Book of Life, does not mean you are a qualified author. Jesus Christ is both the author and finisher of your faith. You have simply and beautifully begun a journey with him. Like a child is born naturally and must learn to walk and talk, to eat – so is the spiritual birth. There are some things you must learn. Some things you will learn quickly. Others may take repeated stumbles and falls. Get up. Keep going. Live for God and learn something from it.
If you are now asking yourself, what does this have to do with the title? Read on.
While we are truly the Family of God, we are also peers. We share many common things. On this subject I could write much more, but for now, I will not. One thing we ALL share; whether man or woman. Young or old. Mature or immature. Pew or pulpit. Married or unmarried. Rich or poor. Healthy or ill. Black, white or other – we ALL must have a watchman on the wall of our soul. Have you ever really considered this? Perhaps you have never even heard this, or maybe only in passing, or a brief reference in a service – and you never really grasped what was being said.
As a pastor I have learned to be a student again. There is much to be learned if we are willing to.
God has made great provision for His people. (For every question, He is the answer. For every problem, He is the solution, The source and The power. Never forget this.)
One of the provisions God made for you and I, is a watchman. He has placed a man in your life to labor for you by watching out for your soul. When God purchased your life with his blood you became a vessel of value. Everything you own and hold dear is precious to God because HE purchased it! Because he values all these things – he has placed a guard there to protect them! To make battle on your behalf. To help ward off the enemy of your soul as well as countless other things you may never know or really have the ability to fully appreciate; yet still, on your wall stands a watchman…
There is a HUGE difference between "A watchman on a wall" and "The watchman on YOUR wall".
Are you taking full advantage of the provision God has made for you? A watchman on a wall is simply "someone" on a wall "someplace" watching out for "something" for "someone else". The contrast to a nameless watchman is YOUR watchman. Now a relationship is required. This relationship must be guarded. It must be protected. It at times may even need defending. Do it.
Let's look at the duty of the watchman. The watchman is responsible for keeping an ever open eye on the borders and perimeters of your life and all things that approach! Walls are good. Walls are necessary. Walls aren't meant to keep you confined. You can do anything you want to do. Your relationship with God should be determining your wants… Walls are to ensure safety from your enemies! Walls are for the protection and fortification of your sou! (Show me a man or woman who doesn't want walls of protection and I'll show you a man or woman who is on a slippery slope headed in a direction far away from Calvary)
The watchman must not blink. The watchman can't assume. The watchman can't be subtle. The watchman is not called to be popular, friendly or compromising. The watchman must be diligent and not afraid to sound alarms, ring bells and draw attention to – your enemies. The watchman is not a hired hand. The watchman is God's manifest hand in the life of His people. The watchman is for the CONTINUED salvation of your soul. The watchman is not about "right now", he is about right always. The watchman is about eternity. The watchman is not about situations, circumstances, trials or blessings – he is about being ever present with an eye stayed on your well being.
Are you getting a little clearer picture now?
The watchman God has placed on your wall must never be casual or lukewarm. He should never be handled – God does a good job at this and does not need our assistance in these arenas. The watchman has been God called, ordained and commissioned for this tour of duty. Make no mistake about it, He is FOR you!
No one really likes to admit to the need for this watchman. Often times he is obtrusive, offensive, loud, challenging, stubborn, strong willed and uncompromising to your plight, yet still, there is a great need for him. Many times his greatest challenge and struggles are not even with the ravenous wolves – he can put them to flight with the blood of Christ. The watchman's greatest challenges can be with the ones he is called to protect. What happens when the protected ones cease to want protection?
Scripture gives many examples as to the role of the Man of God in your life. Two are, The Watchman and The Shepherd. Both are guardsmen. Both are looking out for what is best for those they are protecting. Understand this now. What is best is not always popular or well received, it does however remain, BEST. There are fun practices and there are best practices. Both yield outcomes of stark difference.
Can you now see the difference in the generic term - a watchman and The Watchman? A watchman requires no relationship. The Watchman demands one. A few paragraphs ago I mentioned I became a student again when I became a pastor. One thing I had to learn again was, deep down people do WANT a shepherd watching out for them. Humanity (you and I) desire a personal connection to God. All too often we "allow" our pastor to fill this roll in times of convenience and need. In other words when we need comforting and solace – we want God close to us. When we need, but don't recognize the need for correction and reproof; what about then? The role has not changed. His posture and stance has not been altered – he remains the same. It is here and now we foolishly attempt to handle God's elect. We begin to delegate where and just how much we will allow God to have place in our everyday life.
A couple of months ago, I felt impressed of the Lord to go to a couple of different people and have them literally lay their heads on my shoulder. While doing this the Lord had me speak into their lives. He had me to tell them to lean, rest and rely on a shepherd. I have since done this on four separate occasions. Each time, more and more powerful and with a clear purpose. People must know one of the signs of God's love in their life, is the role of The Watchman. I challenge your spirit today. Open your heart to the active leading role of The Watchman! The prophet Ezekiel had this to say in chapter 3:17-19
"Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me.
When I say to a wicked man, `You will surely die,' and you do not warn him or speak out to dissuade him from his evil ways in order to save his life, that wicked man will die for his sin, and I will hold you accountable for his blood.
But if you do warn the wicked man and he does not turn from his wickedness or from his evil ways, he will die for his sin; but you will have saved yourself."
Your watchman understands the message I have written tonight is not a popular one. It will not garner new friends nor will it make everyone that reads it a "happy camper". It is however a very necessary message in these last days.
Don't handle the Man of God in your life. Don't treat God's blessings as common or ordinary. They are exceptional and beautiful; divine in nature and holy by design.
The next time YOUR watchman stands on YOUR wall and sounds a warning, speaks a word, gives instruction, or attempts to guide – stop what you are doing, point your heart toward Calvary's cross line up and receive it. Don't get mad. Don't start looking for a new church. Don't look for faults in others. Don't seek out an escape goat. Simply be thankful for one of God's greatest gifts!
When asked, "Watchman, watchman, what of the night?" I want to be alert, awake, aware, and ready with a good report, "Lord, these walls are safe!"
0 comments:
Post a Comment