Watchmen are wanted

Text: Isaiah 62:6-7; Nehemiah 1:3; Mathew 3:25; Ezekiel 33:7

Key Verse: Isaiah 62:6, “O Jerusalem, I have posted watchmen on your walls; they will pray day and night, continually. Take no rest, all you who pray to the Lord.” (NLT)

A story was told of an entrepreneur who hired a night watchman for security purposes in his residence. One early morning, the watchman came to the employer and advised him not to go out or be very careful if he must go out. He narrated to the employer a very bad dream of assassins, which he had concerning him the previous night. Surprisingly, the employer terminated his appointment. A man, who was supposed to be active on duty throughout the night, watching over those who were asleep, slept on duty to the extent of dreaming.

A watchman is a person who keeps watch over something or someone. The mission of a watchman is to keep awake even while people are sleeping and to keep a close eye on things so that he can help people prepare themselves by telling them if there is any sign of an attack from the enemy or of a disaster. Which people are you being a watchman for? Are you watching in prayer for your spouse, parents, Church, family, community, nation, children or grandchildren? Are you watching in prayer for those who are without a relationship with Jesus and without hope? You need to give the Lord no rest until He answers your prayers.

Are you wondering why Nehemiah’s heart was broken because of the broken walls of Jerusalem? It is on this wall that the watchmen are supposed to be stationed, a sort of surveillance service of those days. Broken walls mean no watchmen and the attendant consequence is that the enemy can invade the land and attack the people. When men slept according to Mathew 13:25, the enemy came and sowed tares. A Church without praying watchmen will suffer spiritual low percent. God has asked us to avoid spiritual vacation; we should be spiritually alert always.

Any family, church, company, nation, institution without praying men (watchmen) will likely fall prey and become victims in the hands of the devil. You may decide on your own to be that needed watchman. God’s network is always available. No congestion. Watchmen see farther than ordinary men. God gives them revelations of satanic plans because they are alert. It is also the responsibility of watchmen to alert, warn and hasten the redemption of their people. Watchmen are indispensable.

Isaiah 62:7, “And give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem praise in the earth.” It is significant that the watchmen are commanded to pray to God day and night and to keep on praying until God indeed accomplishes all of the wonderful promises He Has given to His people. Why does God need to be solicited to do that which He has already promised to do? Even in the New Testament we find the example of the importunate widow commended to us by Christ Himself, because of her constant petitioning to the unjust judge to avenge her of her adversary (Luke 18). Jesus said in Luke 18:1, “…, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint.”

Isaiah pictures the results of persistent prayer, and he explains how long we should continue to pray. As we persevere in prayer, God will establish Jerusalem—His church—as the “praise of the earth.” And we shouldn’t stop praying until it happens. Demons do not respect titles like PhD, M.Sc, Rev., Pastor, Bishop, GO, Prophet, etc., but they only bow to kneology: praying on your knees. Theology without Kneology is useless and of no effect.

Do you want to see the mighty move of God during your existence here on earth? If yes, follow Isaiah’s counsel: “I have posted watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem.” Those watchmen are you and me. Persist in prayer till God makes you the praise of the earth. Don’t be silent day or night till God establishes you. You and I should not rest from calling on God until He establishes us. Don’t take any vacations from prayer and give God no rest.”

Today’s Nugget: You can never take a vacation from prayer.

Prayer: Lord, raise and make willing more watchmen for the Church in Jesus Name, Amen.

Prayer lines: 09078154261.
E-mail: evangelgospel@yahoo.com
Dr. Chidi Okoroafor
General Superintendent
Assemblies of God Nigeria