Faithful Watchmen

2015.08.16 Sermon Faithful Watchmen

William Akehurst, HSWC

Ezekiel 33:1-6 OT Watchman

BIG IDEA: PRAYER WARRIORS, IT IS TIME TO ASCEND THE WALL AND BEGIN TO FULFILL YOUR CALLING AS WATCHMEN OF GOD.

Isaiah 62:1-12

STAY ALERT, EYES WIDE OPEN-FOR HEAVENS SAKE

1 For Zion's sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth.

CALLED OUT BY A NEW NAME GIVEN AND SPOKEN BY THE LORD HIMSELF

2 And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory:

and thou shalt be called by a new name,

which the mouth of the Lord shall name.

PRECIOUS IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD

3 Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God.

4 Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate:

but thou shalt be called Hephzibah,

and thy land Beulah:

for the Lord delighteth in thee,

and thy land shall be married.

5 For as a young man marrieth a virgin,

so shall thy sons marry thee:

and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee.

A CALLING OF THE LORD. 6-7

6 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,

7 And give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth.

TO BE ALERT

A CONTINUAL COMMITTMENT NOT SPORADIC OR DEPENDENT ON OUR FEELINGS IT IS COMMUNITY.

Because of the life and death nature and constancy of the Watchman's task, it is an assignment for many not just one.

BELIEVERS WORKING TOGETHER. SHARING SHIFTS OF PRAYER.

AN INTENSITY SHARED DAY AND NIGHT NEVER SILENT. GIVE YOURSELF NO REST.

ONLY GROUPS OF BELIEVERS WHO BAND TOGETHER IN WATCHFUL PRAYER WILL BE ABLE TO STAY AT THEIR POST.

GOD POSTS THE WATCHMEN. A DIVINE ASSIGNMENT..."I HAVE SET THE WATCHMAN ON THE WALLS". Not just some prayer fad.

To stand on the wall as a watchman stationed there by the LORD HIMSELF is a great privilege. We need to receive and obey such a call with gratitude and humility.

Characteristics of a Watchman's prayer is that it is done with eyes wide open. Not physically speaking, rather spiritually we are to watch and pray.

What are we looking for as we pray?

Defensive watchfulness. Always on the alert for any attempt of an enemy to attack or infiltrate the city.

To many times the walls of the CHURCH and of our cities today are open to attack because of a lack of watchfulness.

Matthew 26:41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

2 Corinthians 2:11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

Paul wrote that we are ignorant or not aware of the schemes of the enemy. We too often find ourselves painfully unaware of the attempts of the enemy to disrupt and destroy.

DISCERNING THE MOVE OF GOD

A Watchman also keeps their eyes open to see and discern the moves of God.

All too often we miss out on what God is doing because we aren't paying attention.

The watchman should always be asking. Lord what are you doing in our church or city today?

How much more effective we would be if we moved along with the current movement of God.

8 The Lord hath sworn by his right hand, and by the arm of his strength, Surely I will no more give thy corn to be meat for thine enemies; and the sons of the stranger shall not drink thy wine, for the which thou hast laboured:

9 But they that have gathered it shall eat it, and praise the Lord; and they that have brought it together shall drink it in the courts of my holiness.

DISCERNING THE NEEDS OF GODS PEOPLE.

The OT watchman also saw people in need and sent someone to meet those needs.

A WATCHMAN LOOKS OVER THOSE IN HIS FAMILY AND COMMUNITY. PRAYING FOR ONE ANOTHER.

WHEN WE SEE TROUBLE OR A NEED, WE CALL UPON THE LORD TO INTERCEDE ...ON THEIR BEHALF VS 10-11 GO THROUGH, PREPARE, CAST UP (clean up the stumbling stones), LIFT UP the banner

10 Go through, go through the gates; prepare ye the way of the people; cast up, cast up the highway; gather out the stones; lift up a standard for the people.

PROCLAIM THAT SALVATION HAS COME. JESUS IS THE MESSIAH, SAVIOUR AND KING.