(Isaiah 62:6-9)
God's watchman. When I committed my heart and life to go into full-time
ministry over 9 years ago, I accepted God's challenge to become one of His
watchmen. In ancient days, the watchman was the person who occupied a tower
overlooking the city and it's walls. It was his job to announce to the city
when the enemy was preparing to attack. The majority of the Old Testament
prophets felt as spiritual watchmen to the people, although their warnings were for
the most part ignored. They lamented the fact that the people never
listened
despite their prophetic insight and warnings from God. I am sure many of
today's spiritual leaders feel as those Old Testament prophets, as they
sound
the warning from God for people to turn from their sin and embrace God.
That
message, of course, is largely ignored. Early in my ministry, after feeling
that same frustration, God showed me that it was not my job to "make people
change." It was my job to share with them the fact that God loves them,
that
there is everlasting life through Jesus Christ, and that the answers they
are
seeking are found in Him. Period. I was to sound the alarm, blow the
trumpet...that was my job. Only God can change a person's heart. That is a
divine work we cannot accomplish. It has to be Him. Once I came to that
realization, it was easier for me to focus on what my job was and to do it
to
the best of my ability. Soon after that, I got into producing programming
for Christian television stations all over the country. Through that
programming, I could do my job better by reaching more people quicker.
While I still do special services in churches, which was all I did the first
3
years of my ministry, and while I still produce some programming for
Christian television stations, primarily what I have done for the last 5
years,
my full focus and attention is now on our Internet ministry through
Liveprayer.com. God has shown me that I was to be a loud, and bold watchman
in this new medium that will ultimately be able to reach more people quicker
than anything that has been known to man. My friend, I have tried to be a
"watchman" here on the Internet and will continue to tell those on the Net
that God is real, He is alive, and it is only through His son Jesus that we
can know everlasting life, as well as enjoy a purposeful life here on earth.
Let me encourage you today. Everyone that knows Christ as Savior has been
called to be God's watchman. Just remember, God has given you the job of
sharing His love and message. That's it. The changes, the miracles, those
will all come from God himself. You are His instrument to touch a person.
He
is the one that actually does the work. Think about that today and take the
pressure off yourself if the person you have been praying for isn't
getting healed, or saved, or their marriage isn't restored. God is the one
who will bring about the actual change. You just be faithful in doing your
job to be His watchman and share the message.
