Watchman On The Wall

As God’s elect we have all been called to be His Watchmen. Watchmen on the wall of our own hearts and minds and sometimes, on the hearts of others. If we understand our responsibility as God’s Watchmen our lives will be different from the un-guarded believer in many ways.

Our watch is a constant one, a twenty-four hour a day watch. Our spirits must be in tune with the Holy Spirit at all times. We learn to carry the burdens that He places upon us. We learn His gentle, and sometimes not to gentle nudgings when he wants to bring something to our attention that is amiss. Everything in the natural realm must take second place in our lives. Our work, our rest, our home and our food, our family and friends.

When Nehemiah was called of the Lord to rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem he had to take drastic measures to keep the enemy from hindering what the Lord was doing. Every man was given his place to rebuild the portion of the wall allotted to him. As the opposition against them arose, we read in Nehemiah 4:18-18 that they which builded on the wall and they that bare burdens, every one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon.

For the builders, every one had his sword girded by his side, and so builded. So likewise, as we are allowing the Holy Spirit to work on us {His Temple} today and build up the wall against the enemy, not only must the work go on, but the sword of the Spirit must be in our hands to wield against the enemy. We wrestle not against flesh and blood, as they did in Nehemiah's day, but we wrestle against powers of darkness, against principalities in high places. Our battle is different but just as important. We are called to be good soldiers of Jesus Christ. A good soldier keeps his eye on the battle at all times.

As Watchmen, our lives will be different. There are not many furloughs, if any. We know the times and the seasons that are in His hands and we direct ourselves accordingly. We only live to see His kingdom come and to hear Him say, well done my good and faithful servant.

Real Watchmen are living martyrs. They have truly offered up their lives as a living sacrifice unto Him. If we have answered that call, it is not easy on the flesh nature but it is a delight in the Spirit. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. (Col. 5:25) For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh, but they that walk after the Spirit, do mind the things of the Spirit. What a glorious privilege to be His Watchmen. Yet being a Watchman is not an easy calling, especially when the Lord has made us a Watchman unto the house of Israel.

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

Those who see no need to watch for themselves, those who live un-guarded Christian lives do not necessarily appreciate the Watchmen in Israel. Having God set us as Watchman upon the walls of Jerusalem is an awesome, and many times dangerous thing. Watchmen are often stuck between a rock and a hard place. Many of the brethren will curse them if they be faithful to fulfil their duty and God will curse them if they don’t.

Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me. When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul. Again, When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumblingblock before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Nevertheless if thou warn the righteous man, that the righteous sin not, and he doth not sin, he shall surely live, because he is warned; also thou hast delivered thy soul.

Ezekiel 3:17-21

In the Day of reckoning there will be those whom God made Watchmen in Jerusalem, but who refused to do their duty either out of the fear of man or spiritual laziness. They will have to answer for the blood of both the righteous and the wicked. If God has made you a Watchman in Jerusalem, you should embrace that call with all diligence. Be not afraid of man. Regardless of whether or not God has made us a Watchman on the walls of Jerusalem, He has called each and every one to be Watchmen over our own hearts and minds and desires.

Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.

Psalms 141:3

Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

Matthew 26:41

And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.

Luke 21:34

Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.

I. Corinthians 16:13

Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all men.

Ephesians 6:18

Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.

I. Thessalonians 5:6-8

Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

I. Peter 1:13

But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.

I. Peter 4:7

Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.

Revelation 3:2-3

The Scripture is full of admonitions to watch, to be sober, to be on guard and hold fast to the truth. If we do not take heed to these warnings and watch over our own souls, should we still expect to hear the Master say, well done?

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.

I. Peter 5:8-9

Many of us are easy prey for the Adversary because we are watching everything but what we should be! Our hearts and minds are occupied with the cares of this world, with our careers, with our families, with our pleasures, our hobbies, our entertainment. We can even be occupied in religious work and yet not be watching.

There is only one way to watch for ourselves and for others. This is to gird up the loins of your mind. In other words, we have to focus our attention on watching. No effective Watchman remains un-focused or un-guarded for very long. If we are faithful to our call the enemy will never be able to launch a surprise attack. If we are guarding our minds and desires diligently, if we will apply our hearts to watch, God will be faithful to expose the movements of the enemy and he will not be able to hinder the building of God’s temple.

May the Lord always grant us the grace to walk in this calling. Amen!