Habakkuk 3:1 (NLT)
I will climb up to my watchtower and stand at my guard post. There I will wait to see what the LORD says and how he will answer my complaint.
First it was as though it was a dream as I forced my eyes to open and my mind awakened to find that the alarm was sounding at the school across the street. An offensive blaring splitting through the air quite early in the morning, obviously I could not silence it so went to my daughter’s room to see if anyone was on site. Everything looked in order and as I checked on the little sleeping body in the bed next to the window, she was clearly unaffected by the early morning interruption. Beginning my morning routine, I opened the door to let the only other conscious being outside. When the door to the outside opened, the alarm was even louder as now there was no barrier from the sound. Still the world all around lay sleeping and oblivious. I began to wonder what had set the alarm off in the night of if anyone even knew it was blaring except those in the closest proximity who still didn’t seem to care. What would the faculty and students find when they arrived this morning? Had someone broken into the school violating campus security? As I settled into my quiet time, off and on the annoying sound would pierce the silence of my meditation and conversation with the Lord until finally it was gone. It’s funny that I did not even notice when it ended. But the Lord’s Voice became quite strong.
Ecclesiastes 11:3-6 (NLT)
When clouds are heavy, the rains come down. Whether a tree falls north or south, it stays where it falls. Farmers who wait for perfect weather never plant. If they watch every cloud, they never harvest. Just as you cannot understand the path of the wind or the mystery of a tiny baby growing in its mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the activity of God, who does all things. Plant your seed in the morning and keep busy all afternoon, for you don’t know if profit will come from one activity or another—or maybe both.
When a tree falls in the forest, does it make a sound if there is no listening? Of course, it does. It is the nature of things. Farmers plant crops in expectation not knowing what the weather will be like or if the conditions will be favorable for growth. A mother begins her pregnancy in awestruck wonder doing her best to do everything necessary to produce a healthy infant but the baby’s development remains shrouded in great mystery. No one can fully understand, comprehend or relay the activity of God. He does everything according to His Plan which many times in contradictory to the way that a human would do it. He is God. In his all-knowing, all-powerful, everywhere way, the Lord confounds man’s wisdom with His Plan. But not knowing all the details does not exempt God’s People from sowing and reaping every single day! It is God’s Way of life. We must continue to plant our faith in the unseen reality of God until confident hope transforms us into His Watchman on the Watchtower waiting for His Arrival. In a world that thrives on instant gratification, God is calling for His People to rise above daily circumstances, situations and solutions to embrace His Arrival, Intervention and Salvation in our life. Are you ready? In what field are you sowing? Only crops of faith cultivated in the Presence of God will produce Godly People who live in Righteousness and Obedience offered by Jesus Christ. All others will be caught off-guard.
Job 1:6-7 (NLT)
One day the members of the heavenly court came to present themselves before the LORD, and the Accuser, Satan, came with them. “Where have you come from?” the LORD asked Satan. Satan answered the LORD, “I have been patrolling the earth, watching everything that’s going on.”
Did you know that the enemy of your soul spends his time patrolling the earth watching everything that’s going on? It’s true. He is seeking those that are vulnerable to attack and can be devoured. (1 Peter 5:8) He comes before the Lord each day accusing God’s People of sin once again. What’s he been telling God about you? Is there any distinction between you and lost people in need of grace? Most of the time, there really is no distinction between those who call themselves Christians and every other person in the world. We have trampled the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ defining it as permission rather than a pardon. They rummage through the darkness of this world swerving under the Blood of Jesus Christ just enough to think they can squeak by. Knowing the truth, they choose to continue to embrace the lie of the enemy. They seek out false teachers who will condone an alternative lifestyle that allows all the sins that Jesus died for as a provision of His Love and Mercy making a mockery of His Sacrifice. With no call to holiness, believers slip back into the darkness of this world calling it freedom. There is no freedom in sin – ever. But who will be the one to tell others?
Psalm 11:4-5 (NLT)
But the LORD is in his holy Temple; the LORD still rules from heaven. He watches everyone closely, examining every person on earth. The LORD examines both the righteous and the wicked. He hates those who love violence.
The enemy is not the only one who is watching. The Lord is in His Holy Temple. He rules Heaven and earth from His Throne. It is encircled by justice and righteousness. Anything that is contradictory to the Law of God is considered rebellion in the Kingdom of God. Evil is contrary to good and will never be embraced as acceptable by the Lord no matter how many times you drag it through His Blood. His Blood is a current designed to carry your sin as far as the east is from the west. But we hold on tightly to it hoping that God will make it somehow permissible. There is a warning for Heaven today. The Lord says, “I am coming back! Are you ready? I AM watching!”
Ezekiel 3:16-18 (NLT)
After seven days the LORD gave me a message. He said, “Son of man, I have appointed you as a watchman for Israel. Whenever you receive a message from me, warn people immediately. If I warn the wicked, saying, ‘You are under the penalty of death,’ but you fail to deliver the warning, they will die in their sins. And I will hold you responsible for their deaths.
The Lord has entrusted His People to be the watchman on the wall. To take one’s position in the watchtower and keep a lookout in the darkness and tell others when the Light of this World is coming. God uses His Prophets to carry the message. You are a Prophet of God. A prophet is nothing more than a mouthpiece for the Lord. Jesus gave a clear direction in the Great Commission. (Matthew 28:18-20) He poured out His Spirit to live in us and share His Word with our heart and mind to fortify our soul and gives us clear direction and boldness in the matter. (Titus 3:6) This was the fulfillment of the prophecy in Joel 2:28-29. “Then, after doing all those things, I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams, and your young men will see visions. In those days I will pour out my Spirit even on servants—men and women alike.”
Ezekiel 33:5-6 (NLT)
They heard the alarm but ignored it, so the responsibility is theirs. If they had listened to the warning, they could have saved their lives. But if the watchman sees the enemy coming and doesn’t sound the alarm to warn the people, he is responsible for their captivity. They will die in their sins, but I will hold the watchman responsible for their deaths.
What does this mean? You are the watchman on the wall waiting for the arrival of Jesus Christ and warning the world of His Approach! God never does anything without first telling His Prophets. (Amos 3:3-7) Where have all the watchmen gone? Tired of waiting they have left their watchtowers to go on living life and pursing the American Dream with no regard for the Voice of the Lord being revealed by His Spirit. Afraid and ashamed due to a lack of knowledge they do not think to warn others when they cannot save themselves, but rather use religion to feel better about lives full of sin and darkness under the guise of grace. Grace allows us to enter the Presence of God and hear His Voice. God is revealing His Plan and plotting the Return of Jesus Christ. He is looking for men and women willing to climb on the watchtower to watch and pray for His Arrival. The Day of the Lord is approaching. (Joel 2:1-2) Is anyone watching? Who will sound the alarm before it’s too late? Those who ignore the alarm take responsibility for their choice. But if the watchman fails in his mission to sound the alarm and warn others of the coming of the Lord, then it is the watchman who is responsible for their captivity. If they die in their sin, it is the watchman’s responsibility and their blood remains on his hands. I am the watchman. I must get on the wall!
Proverbs 8:33-35 (NLT)
Listen to my instruction and be wise. Don’t ignore it. Joyful are those who listen to me, watching for me daily at my gates, waiting for me outside my home! For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the LORD.
The reward of the watchman is joy, life and favor. By listening to the Word of the Lord and applying it to our life, we are like the watchman who waits for God to answer his complaint. He waits for the Lord to make His Answer plain so it is like a runner who carries it as a sign. When you faithfully watch and wait for the Lord’s Response, your faith will grow exponentially as you discover that God is real and ready to answer those who call on His Name. Listening to instruction is not enough, but wisdom comes from following his instructions. Time is short. This life does not last forever but we will live forever by using our brief time on the earth to tell others of what is to come. (Psalm 39:1-5) Watchmen must be attentive never looking away from the horizon waiting for the Return of Jesus Christ as a servant anticipating his master’s next move. (Psalm 123:1-2) You must be on guard as the enemy has laid traps for the watchman to lure him away. (Hosea 9:8) The greatest trap is a lie that leads people away. The only way to combat a lie is with the Truth. Know the Word of God as if your life depended on it because ultimately it does. The great mysteries of God are revealed in His Word and it leads the Way to life everlasting. God’s Word will satisfy your soul bringing peace of mind as you develop the Mind of Christ.
Matthew 26:40-41 (NLT)
Then he returned to the disciples and found them asleep. He said to Peter, “Couldn’t you watch with me even one hour? Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!”
I wonder if this is what Jesus would say today if He returned this very moment. Would He be disappointed in our lack of attention? I wonder if the disciples would have acted differently if they knew Jesus was about to die? Would we act differently knowing that Jesus was coming today? “Couldn’t you watch with me for one hour?” Will you spend at least an hour today with the Lord either praying, reading the Word of God, worshipping the Lord, sharing His Message, loving other people even your enemies? God is watching. The enemy is patrolling. What are you doing fellow watchman? Have you made it to the wall?
Matthew 24:42-44 (NLT)
So you, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know what day your Lord is coming. Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would keep watch and not permit his house to be broken into. You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.
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