The Ministry of the Watchman

Prophets or watchmen in the Bible were outcasts; they weren’t in the temple with the rest of the God’s people.  So why would today be any different?  On the contrary Christ taught that we are His bride, the body of Christ.  As members of the body we are all given divers gifts and ministries for the building of the Church and the edification of the other members of the body.  Nearly all Churches hold claim to this teaching but almost none include the prophet or watchman in the body.  Everywhere I look I see the watchman outside the church.  Why is that?  To explore the cause of this let’s look at what the watchman is and what gifts the watchman usually receives to fulfill his calling.

God gave watchmen to the church to warn them of dangers and approaching attacks against the body, to make the body aware of approaching threats, so they could make preparation to stand against the attacks.  Some might say that the watchman is the modern day prophet, where prophets of the Old Testament were guided by visions with God interpreting; the watchman is guided by the prophetic text of the Bible and current events with God interpreting.  Not that the watchman does not see visions but the emphasis is on the prophetic Word.  As the time of the end approaches the work of the watchman becomes more and more critical.  The Bible teaches us that as that day approaches deceptions and evil grow stronger and stronger.

One of the gifts that God gives the watchman actually draws people to listen to him when he speaks.  This is because God wants us to hear what He is telling us.  Other gifts of the Spirit on the office of watchman are knowledge, discerning of spirits, word of wisdom, prophecy, and a deep understanding of God and His Word.  The watchman, just like the prophet, has to speak what the Spirit tells him.  Prophets are just like everyone else they do not want to hear bad news and much less tell others.  It would be so much easier to go around telling people God is going to bless them or something great is going to happen to them.  But it is their job or function in the body, like the nerves in the body that tell you when something is not right like a cut or a burn.  If you take away the nerves your life could be threatened and you may not even be aware.

So why don’t watchmen have a position in the church?  Is it fear on the part of the people?  Is it pride on part of pastors?  Or, is it just a lack of understanding in the Church overall?  It is all the above.  And this tends to push the prophet into the wilderness.  So when God tells the prophet to speak He has to compel the prophet to go and speak.  That is why prophets are found hiding in the wilderness.  Look at the children of Israel and what happened to them because they did not give place to the prophet.  Do we…in the Church…want what the Jews had to go through just because we won’t make a place for the watchman in the church?  What would God be saying to the Laodiceans in Revelation if the ministry of watchman was actively speaking to protect and prepare people from within the body?  It is the same Spirit that gave the apostle, the evangelist, the preacher, the teacher, faith and so on as it is that gave the prophet and watchman.  By all means give place to the watchman, they don’t belong in the wilderness, they belong in the body.

Ken