The Role Of A Watchman Series

topic: The Role of a Watchman

“Pray Without Ceasing.”

(1 Thessalonians 5:17)

The role of an intercessor is mirrored in the responsibilities of the ancient watchmen of Jerusalem.

The watchmen stood guard on the walls of the holy city 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

They were the eyes and ears of the people.

They knew that thousands of lives and the future of the nation might depend on their diligence, courage and willingness to stay alert and respond to any threat that might arise.

Unfortunately, like Samson,the church is busy sleeping on the lap of Delilah. Samson; typology of an intercessor, a watchman, carried the gates at night.

Instead of the potential watchmen to warn the body of Christ, it is Delilah that is telling Samson to awake because the philistines are upon him

Intercessors who lift up the Body of Christ today fulfill a similar role, serving as guardians of the Church. Their prayers keep them in constant communication with the Lord, ready to receive His instructions and take action as He commands.

Today, the future of the nations is being weighed and determined as Christ moves toward the day of His return. More than ever before, watchmen intercessors are needed to help guard and guide the Church along the paths the Lord reveals.

To be a true watchman, an intercessor must be willing to perform six strategic tasks for the Lord and for His Church:

1. Watch: The watchmen on the city walls had to stay alert and ready to respond to any changing circumstance or challenge. They could never allow themselves to forget the great responsibility they had to stand guard over the city, or allow themselves to be lulled into complacency or slumber.

In the same way, intercessors must take their responsibility seriously and make a commitment to pray and follow orders as the Lord reveals His will. Watchmen intercessors must be willing to echo the pledge: “I will stand my watch and set myself on the rampart, and watch to see what He will say to me” (Habakkuk2:1, NKJV).

2.Wait: Like a watchman, intercessors must have patience. In humility, they must be humble before the Lord and wait for His answer in His time. They must be willing to say with the Psalmist, “My soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning” (Psalm 130:6, NKJV).

3.Go to War: Enemies on earth and in heavenly places are bent on destroying the Church and preventing the Lord’s return.

Intercessors, like watchmen, are warriors, ready to do battle against any foe.

King David said, “Blessed be the Lord my Rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle” (Psalm 144:1, NKJV).

4.Warn: A critical responsibility of the watchman and the intercessor is to warn the people of approaching danger. Ancient watchmen always scanned the horizon, searching for enemies and ready to sound a warning. On the spiritual battlements, intercessors must be on the lookout for enemies of darkness that threaten to destroy God’s people, and like the prophets of old, sound an alarm when the Holy Spirit reveals an approaching danger.

5. Wrestle in Prayer: Intercessors must be ready to do battle, but also be prepared to struggle long and hard for the victory. As the apostle Paul says/

’For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12, NKJV).

6. Weep: We sometimes forget that Jesus was “a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief “(Isaiah 53:3). When he discovered that his friend Lazarus had died, we are told that “Jesus wept” (John 11:35).

Intercessors must be bold in battle, but share God’s great love for the lost and reflect His compassion for those in need by covering them in prayer.

7. Worship: The most uplifting aspect of the watchman’s duties is to lead the way in worship and praise of our Lord and Savior.

One of Isaiah’s inspiring prophecies that looks towards the Lord’s return says, “Your watchmen shall lift up their voices, with their voices they shall sing together; for they shall see eye to eye when the Lord brings back Zion” (Isaiah 52:8, NKJV).

The Lord loves to hear the worship of the saints in anticipation of that great day, with intercessors leading the way. The Church needs an international army of intercessors who are willing to be watchmen in our generation. We need men and women who are willing to wait upon the Lord, pray for the fulfillment of the Great Commission and herald the Lord’s

inevitable return.

Dr.Tg Badia