C. WHY DO WE NEED WATCHMEN IN THIS GENERATION?
The state of degeneration that this world and so many so called Christians are so subjected to is a strong indication that we need active watchmen who will salt the decaying world and church. Therefore, these are some of the evils that characterized this generation:
· It is a generation that everybody claimed to be “BORN AGAIN” though their outfit, utterance, affections, deeds… etc are totally evidenced of the devil. God challenged the church in Sardis that she thought she is alive but she is dead - Rev. 3:1-3.
· It is a generation that Holy Spirit gives utterance (tongue) to few faithful and dedicated brethren and men of clergy, but most people went to learn their own (from men and the devil) and speak it anywhere, anyhow, even in the market, and when making jest. Therefore, it carries no divine inspiration, neither did it has divine connection with the Holy Spirit.
· It is a generation that does not fear God nor regard the ministers of God in their thoughts and deeds.
· It is a generation that most clergies are not found with integrity but full of lies, deceit and heresies in order to fast populate their Churches.
· It is a generation of ‘it doesn’t matter’, ‘everybody does it’, ‘God understands’, No one can be perfect’, ‘I am trying my best’, ‘I will not kill myself’… The generation that despise holiness and has no fear of God or of hell fire in their hearts.
Yet, God does not have pleasure that a sinner should die, but to repent of his sins and be saved. But how shall they be saved if they do not hear the word of God, and how shall they hear if nobody preach to them with love, passion and trembling – Romans 10:13-14. Truly, there is need for watchmen to stand in their post for God and keep declaring the word with fire and trembling.
D. THE FAILURE OF THE PRESENT DAY WATCHMEN
There are three indispensable factors to a successful Christian/ministerial living as a watchman. These three are seriously lacked in the lives of most men on the pulpit in this generation. They are:
i. Vision of God’s holiness ii. Passion for the Sinners iii. Sensitivity of the watchmen.
1. VISION OF HEAVEN:
George Deakin said,
“A VISION without a TASK makes a VISIONARY,
A TASK without VISION is DRUDGERY (hard boring work),
A VISION with a TASK makes a MISSIONARY.”
ISAIAH HAD A VISION
Before Isaiah saw the vision of God’s holiness, he rated himself so perfect, but when he saw the glory of God, he lamented: “Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.” Isaiah 6:5.
Then and there, he was purified with the touch of a life coal from the altar of God -- “Then flew one of the Seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.” Isaiah 6:6-7.
Unlike Isaiah, most men on the pulpit today lack this vision of God’s holiness, this resulted to living in sin and yet not trembling in the presence of God. The altar is polluted and the watchmen are deep asleep or even dead as a result of their ignorance of devil’s devices and their deep involvement in sin and worldliness.
Do you have a vision to stand for God in holiness and faithfulness without compromising His divine standard for whatever reason on earth? What is the vision that is driving your life and ministry? What are you living for: for God and the salvation of the lost souls or for the material world? Will you live for temporary pleasures or will you live for God’s eternal purpose?
God commanded us in 1 John 2:15-17 to … “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.”
The love of the world is enmity with God – James 4:4. Also, to be canal minded is enmity against God – Rom. 8:5-8.
2. PASSION FOR THE SINNERS (LOST SOULS)
“Where there is no vision, the people perish. Where there is no passion, the Church perishes, even though it be full to the door.”
Lack of passion in this generation has made the watchmen to be careless in their duty posts. They are mostly concerned about their and all that will bring profit to them alone. Not mind if it will cost others their lives, dream and destinies. Lack of passion makes the preacher to be careless, not trembled nor touched when they are talking about hell and eternal judgment upon the sinners.
The Life story of Charles Peace.
Charles Peace was a criminal. Laws of God or man curbed him not. Finally the law caught up with him, and he was condemned to death. On the fatal morning in Armley Jail, Leeds, England, he was taken on the death walk. Before him went the prison Chaplain routinely and sleepily reading some Bible verses.
The criminal touched the preacher and asked what he was reading. “The consolations of religion,” was the reply. Charles Peace was shocked at the way he professionally read about hell. Could a man be so unmoved in the very shadow of scaffold, as to lead a fellow human there and yet, dry eyed, read of a pit that has no bottom, into which the fellow must fall? Could he believe the words that there is an eternal fire that never consumes its victims and yet this preacher slide over the phrase without a tremor? Is a man human at all who can say you will be eternally dying, and yet never know the relief that death brings? These were the thoughts overwhemingly bordering his heart. It was too much for Charles Peace, so he preached. Listen to his brink-of-hell sermon: “Sir,” addressing the preacher, “if I believe what you and the Church of God SAY that you believe, even if England were covered with broken glasses from coast to coast, I would walk over it if needs be on hands and knees, and think it worth while living, if I could but save one soul from an eternal hell like that!”
Hmn, Watchmen! People go to hell fire everyday because the Church and the preachers have lost vision and passion for saving souls! Do you feel the horror of hell when you preach on “God’s vengeance upon the sinners” or you just preach without been pricked? Do you have passion for the lost souls that could even lead you to fasting and praying for their salvation? If you did, when last did you felt such passion for the lost souls? Awake, oh watchmen from your snoring. Men are dying eternally and they need someone to rescue them with passion needed from the horrible hungry hell that never full.
3. INSENSITIVITY OF WATCHMEN.
* Most watchmen are not sensitive to time and opportunity of the harvest of souls. Jesus said “Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? Behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.” John 4:35. We must possess the eye of God that sees what our Lord and Saviour sees in order to be fruitful in the kingdom service and be acceptable to Him in life beyond. Tell somebody about Jesus and by all means win souls for Christ because now is the acceptable time for salvation - 2 Cor. 6:2.
* Insensitivity of watchmen to the Devil’s strategies of opposition: Unoccupied vessel devil will hijack to his advantage - Matthew 12:43-45. Misunderstanding and quarrelling among the brethren and clergies instead of fighting the devil is a strong indication of our failure. This was seen among the Corinthian brethren and Apostle Paul addressed it… “For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?” 1 Cor. 1:11; 3:3; “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory” Phil. 2:3; “And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves.” 2 Tim. 2:24-26.
* Insensitivity of watchmen to know God’s purpose for our lives: We are made the mouth piece of God on earth to decree His purpose on earth. He has given us authority to take dominion over the devil and demons. Jesus said, “Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” Matt. 18:18-20.
Sometimes, we thought of not qualified to preach salvation to the sinners who are on the path to hell fire as to win them for Christ. Why? This you should know, God does not called the qualified, but on the contrary, He qualified the called and use them for His service. If He chose you, He will also empower you and enable you for the task ahead. All you need is to key yourself into His word to be relevant in His kingdom.
* Insensitivity to believe the potency of the word of God we preached: When you lost courage and faith in the word of God, you will forge messages for youself that will make people happy. To this effect, you will be limited to rebuke their sins and waywardness.
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