So!
You think your a "watchman".
God, you think, has called you to decide if churches are preaching/teaching correct doctrine.
First scripture does tell us that Jesus gave apostles, prophets, evangelist, pastors and teachers.
Eph 4:11-12
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: KJV
Says what they were given for.
To perfect or mature the saints.
No mention of a watchman given to keep an eye on those that are given.
However.
You think and will insist that you are called to be a watchman.
What are the qualifications of a "watchman" if there was such.
If the job is to decide if doctrine taught by those that Jesus gave is correct.
Then a watchman would have to be schooled by Jesus in person since He is The One that gave the gifts.
Otherwise how is a watchman qualified to determine if doctrine taught is correct or not?
There is no such "calling" as a watchman in NT times.
After reading your posts I went back and read the whole thread… no one here called themselves a watchman. What makes you so sure there are none. I disagree. Watchmen are used to sound an alarm, it may be that we don't need an alarm today but hopefully, when we do, there will be watchmen.
If you've ever been in the service (I was not) but from what I've read, the person standing guard can be executed should they fall asleep at the guard post. Being a watchman is a tedious thankless job, for which people give their lives in service to wait on the Lord.
Think of Simeon….
Luke...
5 And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27 So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law, 28 he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said:
29 “Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace,
According to Your word;
30 For my eyes have seen Your salvation
31 Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples,
32 A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles,
And the glory of Your people Israel.”
33 And Joseph and His mother[a] marveled at those things which were spoken of Him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against 35 (yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”
…………..
Ezekiel
16 Now it came to pass at the end of seven days that the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 17 “Son of man, I have made you a watchman or the house of Israel; therefore hear a word from My mouth, and give them warning from Me: 18 When I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life, that same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand. 19 Yet, if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul.
20 “Again, when a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and I lay a stumbling block before him,
he shall die; because you did not give him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he has done shall not be remembered; but his blood I will require at your hand. 21 Nevertheless if you warn the righteous man that the righteous should not sin, and he does not sin, he shall surely live because he took warning; also you will have delivered your soul.”
22 Then the hand of the Lord was upon me there, and He said to me, “Arise, go out into the plain, and there I shall talk with you.”
23 So I arose and went out into the plain, and behold, the glory of the Lord stood there, like the glory which I saw by the River Chebar; and I fell on my face. 24 Then the Spirit entered me and set me on my feet, and spoke with me and said to me: “Go, shut yourself inside your house. 25 And you, O son of man, surely they will put ropes on you and bind you with them, so that you cannot go out among them. 26 I will make your tongue cling to the roof of your mouth, so that you shall be mute and not be one to rebuke them, for they are a rebellious house. 27 But when I speak with you, I will open your mouth, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God.’ He who hears, let him hear; and he who refuses, let him refuse; for they are a rebellious house.
………..
Amos 3
7
Surely the Sovereign Lord does nothing
without revealing his plan
to his servants the prophets.
…………..
Apostle John was a watchman and he left a whole book of warnings….
………
If the Lord calls his watchman Prophets, they are listed in the NT. It is a job I would not envy anyone, but I would be grateful to them….
The fact that we are warned about false prophets (It would have been far simpler for God to say there would be NO PROPHETS) this only tells us there are genuine prophets and you must not follow anyone but do and learn the word for yourself so that you will not be deceived by false prophets and stop worrying about it unless you refuse to do what the Lord commands. WHAT DOES THE LORD COMMAND AND WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO US?
25 When they found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him, "Rabbi, when did you get here?" 26 Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, you are looking for me, not because you saw miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. 27 Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval." 28 Then they asked him, "
What must we do to do the works God requires?" 29 Jesus answered, "
The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent." 30 So they asked him, "What miraculous sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? 31 Our forefathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written: 'He gave them bread from heaven to eat.' " 32 Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world." 34 "Sir," they said, "from now on give us this bread." 35
Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty. 36 But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. 37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. 38 For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. 40 For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day."
So ask yourselves, what does it mean to believe…?
God bless, andrea
