Christian watchmen

So we can enjoy fellowship uninterrupted, I have created a new thread here for those who like myself appreciate the call and even have felt the call of watchman on themselves. God bless and keep your eyes up and open!

Let me tell you, and I guess everyone, what I perceived when I felt God tell me I was a watchman.

I asked Him what He wanted from me as I sat in prayer one night and as I had done many times before, opened my Bible. The first passage I opened to without flipping through any passages was Ezekiel when God told Ezekiel he was a watchman. So as I always do I prayed about it. As I prayed I saw a huge army of people, dressed in Roman Army armor marching in battle formation, forward towards an unseen enemy led by a single individual who had a battle standard raised high. I asked God what this was and He told me that He wanted me to intercede and pray for more intercessors who would do battle in context of Ephesians 6. The ones up front where to be a new generation of leaders He was raising up to lead the church through the final days. With God as my witness, I am not lying about what I saw or heard. That is when God told me, I want you to be a watchman in the mold of Ezekiel, to cry out as He instructs me. He wants me to seek Him in prayer for whatever He wants to share through me.

Well for the longest time I did not understand fully what this meant, to be a watchman, yet I knew God told me to be such. Well as I started, I believe he has recently revealed a fuller explanation of that call.

Isaiah 52:8
Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices; together they shout for joy. When the LORD returns to Zion, they will see it with their own eyes.

Isaiah 62:6
I have posted watchmen on your walls, Jerusalem; they will never be silent day or night. You who call on the LORD, give yourselves no rest,

Ezekiel 22:30 ESV
And I sought for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the breach before me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none.

Isaiah 59:15-17 ESV
The Lord saw it, and it displeased him that there was no justice. He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no one to intercede; then his own arm brought him salvation, and his righteousness upheld him. He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on his head; he put on garments of vengeance for clothing, and wrapped himself in zeal as a cloak.

Watchman as it was explained to me by the Spirit, are intercessors. Chief intercessors who have a special calling on their lives to abide in the presence of the Father and as Jesus lives to intercede for us, watchman live to intercede for others. We, as watchmen (those who are called) observe needs of those around us and when revealed speak as told to speak and pray (intercede) as we are told to pray.

The calling is similar to that of the prophet, but perhaps just a tad different in that prophets are sometimes told not to pray for others, but only speak as revealed. Watchmen are the exact opposite. We pray as revealed and sometimes we are told not to speak of things revealed.

watchmen are vigilant. Watchful in an ever steady prayerful spirit. Ready to jump into intercession wherever the Spirit leads. They are not concerned with the rabble that seeks to destroy them. Their calling comes only from God and they answer directly to him for their calling. If they fail in their job and duty, many can perish. If they succeed then disaster may yet be averted. They are loners, standing upon the ramparts in the dark, watchful and alert for any sign or revelation of danger.

Habakkuk 2:1-3 ESV

I will take my stand at my watchpost and station myself on the tower, and look out to see what he will say to me, and what I will answer concerning my complaint. And the Lord answered me: “Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it. For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.

Colossians 4:2 ESV

Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.

Watchmen are rejected by the majority. Their eyes are fastened upon heaven and their praise comes from the LORD who grants them the knowledge of inner truth. They have a special relationship with God as granted them through the Spirit. They are called and granted his eyes and ears. They possess his heart and in sacrificial love, walk as he walked.

Watchmen are unique and cherished saints. Their duty is difficult and the journey is arduous. But they have been called and the responsibility lay with them, for if they fail, death and destruction are certain to come.

Watchmen are often misunderstood. They speak truth as revealed from heaven to those who have been lulled into disbelief and error. Condemned as judgemental, they are often labelled as hateful and proud. When destruction is coming upon those under their charge, watchman step in and cry out for vigilance and repentance. Because they disrupt the normal affairs of life, they are reviled and jeered. Because they do not soothe itching ears, they are rejected and despised.

Those of you that have the calling of watchman from God, be strong! Stand firm against the brush back of people. Be resilient in your calling. God is working through you!

People do not want to hear that they must live holy lives. That they must give up their idols in pursuit of God.

The call to watch is a difficult one. It is a restless calling. When others sleep and slumber, watchmen are vigilant and alert.

Abide in Christ you watchmen. He will never fail you! Obey his leading as he directs! Do not fall into a theological theme box that limits your view or understanding. God is greater than a written word and he is more vast than the heavens. He is waiting to reveal himself to those who forsake all in the pursuit of him.

I had the discussion thread closed as it was veering fastly off track from an edifying discussion into a poisonous spot that was doing nothing but destroying.

This one I started as an alternative so those who are called as watchmen, or are curious about what such a calling is, can come and share testimonies without having to deal with the banter that comes from people every day.

God told me that people would react with poison and revile me for my calling. He told me to speak anyway and not be silent. So I do as told.

It breaks my heart that people will so easily hide behind a piece of paper and ink than just step out in faith and follow the Spirit. Faith is never easy.

Faith makes things possible, not easy. ~Author Unknown (Faith Quotes, Sayings about Faith)

Watchmen are humble. Seeking not their own safety or good. They weather all the storms and expose themselves to the most danger to stand guard and watch for coming events.

5 And he said to them, “Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves, 6 for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; 7 and he will answer from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything’? 8 I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence he will rise and give him whatever he needs.

As this friend took in a companion and knew he had nothing to provide for them, this person knew someone that did have more than enough and persistently went to them in petition until their request was granted.

Watchmen possess this persistent spirit in prayer. Day and night, in peace and chaos, crying out to God as he reveals to them. Standing the gap to deflect judgement and bring down mercy. As the Spirit leads, they follow. They speak as told to speak. They pray as told to pray.

They weather all storms for the sake and security of those under their watch. They expose themselves to extreme danger so that others may have life. They stand upon the ramparts, the most isolated positions to hear the slightest noise and see the least glimpse of people or danger. They hold the keys to safety and peace.

If watchmen fail, those under their watch face certain death and destruction. If they fail, God holds them responsible. If they fulfill their calling, then they may yet be a source of life to those who otherwise would be oblivious to danger and obliteration.

STAND UP WATCHMEN! Be alert and vigilant! The Spirit of the LORD is upon you to carry you!

One of many scriptural foundations for watchmen.

Psalm 130:1-8 ESV

Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord ! O Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleas for mercy! If you, O Lord , should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared. I wait for the Lord , my soul waits, and in his word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning. O Israel, hope in the Lord ! For with the Lord there is steadfast love, and with him is plentiful redemption. And he will redeem Israel from all his iniquities.

That is a function of shepherds, yes.

Watchmen in the scriptural sense could have that as part of their calling I suppose, but in the OT the word is almost always used to describe someone who is posted on guard over a city or town, watching for signs of danger or even watching for coming dignitaries. They then sound the alert so the people know something is coming.

Thank you for your honest and unbiased feedback

Jesus was a watchman...

John 5:19 ESV

So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise.

John 5:20 ESV

For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel.

so watchmen, like Jesus, see how the Father is working and when prompted to do so, they join with the Father in his work.

That is why we must be ever alert and watchful.