Watchmen Arise!

In this teaching, watchmen refer to all believers in Christ. Watchmen play a significant part in ushering in the kingdom of God on the earth.

What is watching?

Once you have prophetic revelation (or insight) you have the responsibility to watch over it

In Genesis 2:15, God instructed Adam and Eve to tend and maintain the garden of Eden. The word "keep" is derived from the Hebrew word shamar, which means "to exercise great care over." This suggests that God did not merely watch them passively, but rather actively "guarded" them. When someone intends to keep something, they guard and protect it. Similarly, God watched over, kept, guarded, and protected Israel. Exodus 11:7 illustrates the extent of God’s vigilance, as He did not allow even a single dog to bark.

Exodus 12:42 “it was a night of watching by the Lord.” (as Israel was delivered from Egypt)

God calls for the watchers:

Isaiah 62:6-7 “On your walls, O Jerusalem, I have set watchmen; all the day and all the night they shall never be silent. You who put the Lord in remembrance, take no rest, and give him no rest until he establishes Jerusalem and makes it a praise in the earth.”

Ezekiel 3:17, 33:7 God calls Ezekiel as a watchman for Israel.

Matthew 26:40-41 “So, could you not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

God’s covenant with Abraham Genesis 17

God was watching for a man He could make covenant with. After Adam and Eve were banished from the garden, the great evil of Noah's day, and the fiasco of the builders of the tower of Babel in Genesis 11, God revisits what was started in the garden of Eden through Abraham. Abraham would be a father of nations, with authority and kingdom influence. Through Abraham a prototype of the kind of world God envisioned was birthed. A world that was not yet but called as though it was.

Romans 4:17 “(as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”). He is our father in the presence of God whom he believed – the God who makes the dead alive and summons the things that do not yet exist as though they already do.”

As the spiritual seed of Abraham (Galatians 3:7) it is the responsibility of every believer to watch the performance of God’s covenant with mankind.

Watchmen are watching for covenant alignment

All nations are going to have to decide how they align with the covenant God made with Abraham, the nation of Israel. This includes our nation, India. Covenant alignment comes by faithfully watching and praying through the fulfilment of God's Word. Circumcision is part of the covenant- in Abraham’s case, it was a literal circumcision. For believers, it may involve a cutting from things of the past (religious mindsets, wrong heart attitudes), so you can watch from now into the future.

Watchmen lead the remnant

They must learn to stand between God and men (Deuteronomy 5:5;1 Kings 17:1; Ezekiel 22:30), between God and the enemy.

Watchmen see and announce. They not only observe the moment but also watch from the moment into the future.

Habakkuk 2:1-2 "I will take my stand at my watch post and station myself on the tower, and look out to see what he will say to me. And the Lord answered me:

“Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it."

They must see what is coming towards them. They must develop integrity in their announcements. Watchmen not only warn but also know the time to move. 

What is the goal of watching?

-For safety

-To respond to cues and movements; to navigate

Watchmen must learn to not only watch the prophetic word but the progression of prophetic words.

Eg Elijah, Ezekiel, Anna.

Ezekiel 37- the valley of dry bones: five levels of prophecy and then a performance. 

1 Kings 18- Elijah on Mount Carmel- did not stop watching when the fire fell but prayed through until the rain fell. It was an issue of water (drought) that precipitated the confrontation with the prophets of Baal. Elijah saw it through to its completion.

Luke 2- Anna the prophetess knew the Messiah when she saw Him presented at the temple.

Watchmen watch to see quality of life enhanced for those being watched over.

They are not called to watch from a critical, judgmental standpoint but from fulfilment of covenant purposes.

Time revolves around covenant. Watchmen must understand times, like the sons of Issachar.

What is the time we’re in? Era of pey which means “mouth”- the words we use, how we prophesy, the voice. The enemy is trying to delay what God wants on the earth. Watchmen to arise and ascend to the throne room and bring the kingdom on earth. This year is about grace but also go up (ascend) to the throne room, get the revelation from throne room and establish it on earth.

Psalm 17:15 “And me? I plan to look you full in the face. When I get up, I will see your full stature and live heaven on earth.”

Haggai and Zechariah are sent to motivate the people to rebuild the destroyed temple, to watch from the present (ruins) to the future (glory). The people had been in warfare over the rebuilding of the temple and had grown discouraged. They postponed the building of the future to build their own houses. But with Haggai and Zechariah’s prophetic direction, they began the rebuilding process. In similar ways, the house of the Lord is being rebuilt in the next three years. The glory at the latter will be greater than the former glory. As watchers arise, expect the enemy to accuse of mistakes of past. Like in Zechariah 3, Satan brings an accusation against Joshua the high priest. But the Lord rebukes Satan. God gave Joshua a new turban and new garments. God is giving a window to the church to rebuild. New robe and new turban- think differently in these 3 years that open the door to the future. Trust in the righteousness of the Lord, not in your righteousness.

Find your place as Watchmen. Know what you are watching and watch for the performance of what you are looking for. Watch the Word all the way to Passover next year and see step by step the Lord perform the Word. He is saying it to Israel and any nation that aligns with His covenant.

PRAY FOR INDIA

In this 79th year of independence, we thank you for India, its land, and people.

You are God who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. As the seed of Abraham, we call India to life, to enter her inheritance. We call India to be rightly aligned with the covenant You made with Abraham, the father of many nations. With upright heart, shepherd us, and guide us with Your skillful hand. Lead India as a Shepherd his sheep, from her shadow to sacred destiny.

Do not remember our former iniquities but let your compassion come speedily to the people and the land. Heal this land. Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?” Avenge the blood of your servants that have been spilled on this land from generations past and let it be known for generations to come, and among the nations, before our eyes!

While the people around us mock and taunt Your Holy Name, we will give thanks to You forever; from generation to generation, we will recount Your praise.

Raise up sons and daughters, who will arise and tell of Your glorious deeds, might, and wonders. They will tell it to their generations, that they might set their hope in You, not forgetting the works of Your hand. We bless India and speak a divine protection from the north to the south, from west to east, from above and below. We bless India, that through us this nation will be blessed, because we have obeyed Your voice. (Taken from Ps 78, 79 and Romans 4)