*Pastor’s Note: This was inspired by the Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 5 verse 16. “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” (NASB)
Heavenly Father,
We acknowledge that You are in control of all things and that throughout the ages and even now You alone are Sovereign and that You reign not just in the Heavens but also within our hearts. You alone Lord are worthy of our praise, worship and exultation. Your glory is from everlasting to everlasting!
We thank You that You shine Your light through us most especially in any and all circumstances in which we find ourselves. We are to let our lights shine before others that they may see our good works and glorify You in heaven. Let us never forget we are the light of the world. It is our desire to shine brightly before others, allowing our attitude, words, and actions to reflect the values of Jesus. We will carry the light of Your salvation through our words, our actions, and the way in which we seek to be fruitful producing only good fruit where we are planted.
We want our lives to be a testimony to Your goodness. We pray that You would use us to spread light to those in need, and that all our good deeds and works will glorify You. Father, in Your infinite wisdom You give us daily strength and spiritual resolve to carry on in the darkest of circumstances so that the light of Christ might be made manifest in our lives for others to see. Continue to strengthen us I pray.
So, are we as Christians today bound by these “Ten” Commandments? Let me answer it this way; when the Pharisees and religious leaders were trying to trick Jesus into saying something they could use against Him, they asked Him the following question:
“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?”
And He said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and foremost commandment. And a second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.” – Matthew 22:36-40.
Notice that Jesus didn’t end it with just the Law, but with the Law and the Prophets! Jesus knew what they were doing and one of the things that Israel was known for was disobeying the Words of God as spoken through the Prophets. He was reminding these religious leaders that EVERY Word of God stems from these two commandments.
The expository teaching that I did in 1 John covers our responsibility concerning this as well as John writes in 1 John 1:3, “And by this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments.” John was not talking about the literal Ten Commandments but rather, the Commandments that fulfilled everything as stated by Christ.
Our whole walk as a Christian is based on the example of Christ. Thus the term, Christian, or one being of Christ or His teachings, disciple or follower. His example is what causes us to stand out from among the world. False, “Christs” or false “Christians” will be easily identifiable by the example they display before men. I am not saying we will know Christians because they are good people and follow the Ten Commandments but what I am saying is that they will demonstrate the Two Great Commandments Jesus gave. This takes in consideration our faults and shortcomings, because, true Christ-like love, covers a multitude of transgressions according to God’s Word. A person who is only “playing” Christian does not have that ability to forgive and love like Christ. They to easily remember faults and offenses. Their selfishness comes out and shows them for what they are. They think they are disguised, but what is in the dark recesses of the heart is sure to come to Light in the Spirit.
The Ten Commandments are still doing today what they were meant to do from the beginning, and that is identifying man’s sin and his inability to justify himself before God. Therein lies the problem with the world as a whole and the displaying of the Ten Commandments. Man who is corrupt by nature and wants to continue to use the darkness for his deeds, is always being confronted by his sinfulness when the Commandments are displayed. When the Commandments are displayed in a government building such as a courthouse it glares at those that would try and hide their deeds behind loop holes and such in the laws of our country.
The Ten Commandments still stand as the conscience of man when they would rather ignore what their heart tells them is true and right. That is why there is so much controversy. The controversy doesn’t come from those who already walk in faith and in the light, but rather from them that would rather keep others in the dark!
Man CAN and often does sear his conscience to the point it is no matter a reliable source of self-control. If he ignores what is right long enough, the Bible says in Romans 1:28-32, “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.”
Titus 1:15-16 says this, “To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled. They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work.”
The words debased and defiled in the King James Version say reprobate, which means “void of judgment,” or an unapproving mind. Their conscience no longer has sway over them.
As Christians though, we don’t have to rely on our conscience. When we accepted Jesus into our hearts, we invited His Spirit, the Holy Spirit to take up residence and we surrendered our lives and wills to Him. He gives us precise guidance where the leading of the conscience could be tainted. Our spirits have become alive to God and we have that intimate relationship with Him again that we once lost through Adam.
When we see the world want to remove the Ten Commandments from their sight, we have to remind ourselves why. We need to pray that the blinders will be removed from those in authority and that the very thing that shows us our need for a Savior will continue to shine its light forth. Short of that, we need to pray that the Lord will continue to burn into their hearts the very thing they are trying to hide from sight!
So the whole point of this message concerning the Ten Commandments and its relevance for today is this: Where do YOU stand in relation to God. Is He your Father, your Love, your Redeemer, your Guide and Counselor? Or are you still relying upon the law written on tablets of stone or on the tablet of your heart? Does the Ten Commandments still shine a light upon the darkness of your sin, or does it stand as a beacon to the Power and Grace that flows from a merciful and gracious God to a life that gains its strength from Jesus Christ through faith?
For the Christian, the Ten Commandments, the Law and the Prophets, and the words they spoke will remain as a monument to the majesty, love, power and grace of a Father that has ALWAYS looked out for His creation! Are we bound by it? We are bound by the New Law, the Law that is Faith in Christ Jesus, the Glorious Son of God, the Author and Perfecter of our lives and faith! We are bound by the New Covenant of Love that is through Jesus Christ and empowered by His Holy Spirit!
John Charles Ryle (May 10, 1816 – June 10, 1900) was an evangelical Anglican clergyman and first Bishop of Liverpool. He was renowned for his powerful preaching and extensive tracts. John C. Ryle was a big man, physically, intellectually, scripturally and spiritually. The fact is that Ryle, though very definitely a Victorian of the Victorians, seemed to be able to leave behind him the verbosity and sentimentality of many of his contemporaries so that his writings still speak today, not only to the older generations, but to younger Christians as well.
Different Gospel Methods, Same Gospel Goal
No individual Church on earth has an absolute monopoly of all wisdom, and that people may be right in the main, without agreeing with us. We must learn to be thankful if sin is opposed, the Gospel preached, and the devil’s kingdom pulled down, though the work may not be done exactly in the way we like. We must try to believe that men may be true-hearted followers of Jesus Christ, and yet for some wise reason may be kept back from seeing all things in religion just as we do.
Above all, we must praise God if souls are converted, and Christ is magnified–no matter who the preacher may be, and to what Church he may belong. Happy are those who can say with Paul, “If Christ be preached, I rejoice, yes and will rejoice,” (Philippians 1:18) and with Moses, “Are you jealous for my sake? I wish that all the Lord’s people were prophets, and that the Lord would put his Spirit upon them all!” (Numbers 11:29).
We have heard a lot in the news over the last several years about the Ten Commandments and whether they should be allowed in state and federal buildings and offices within the United States. Many foreign countries, allies and non-allies alike have watched with interest to see the outcome of this latest episode in America’s religious history.
It has spawned the question in many minds, especially in those of the Christian faith as to the relevance that they play in today’s lifestyles. As Christians we enjoy the mercies of our Mighty God based on His grace bestowed to us. So, with that in mind, why would this summary of the Law, really hold any sway to us?
It is a very good question and one that I believe Christians should take to heart. It helps to study the importance of these commandments in the history of scripture. God did not inspire anything in the Scriptures that were not of importance. Our Bible, is a road map. A road map that lays out the lifestyle of any who would call God, Father and who would follow Him as Lord. It is also a “blueprint” as it were of God’s character and nature; given to man so that we could have an understanding AND renewed relationship with Him as Father.
You can read the giving of the Ten Commandments in Exodus chapter 20 through to chapter 34. If you read this account you will see that God first spoke the commandments to the people, but as the people were fearful of His speaking they asked Moses to receive the commandments. Moses was given the commandments on two tablets of stone, written by the finger of God. Before Moses even made it back down the mountain, the people had already sinned against what God had spoken to them earlier.
In Moses’ wrath, he broke the tablets God had given to him. Moses had to appease God’s wrath and once that happened, the Lord accepted Moses’ appeal and called him back up the mountain of Sinai. This time God told Moses to cut out the stone tablets himself like the ones he broke and then God again would write upon the tablets, the historic Ten Commandments.
For many generations the two tablets of stone were carried in the Ark of the Covenant from place to place until God allowed the children of Israel to build a temple dedicated to Him. So, what exactly were the Ten Commandments to the children of Israel? Along with the other statutes and laws that accompanied the Ten Commandments, it separated the Father’s children from the rest of the world. It was a covenant with His children, that if they would obey and follow His ordinances, He would always go before them, protecting them and preparing the ways before them.
Over the centuries since they were given, man has looked to the Ten Commandments as a guideline for the conscience; a guide to determine his moral uprightness. Within the last couple of centuries it has been the yardstick, so to speak, of separating the heathen from the so-called civilized man. However, they were more of a telling point into the character of man. God knew man could never keep them all, so they were to show man, his utter need for God Almighty.
Have you ever wondered why it is so ingrained into our psyche, why it is so recognizable to almost anyone? Romans 2:11-16, “For there is no partiality with God. For all who have sinned without the Law will also perish without the Law; and all who have sinned under the Law will be judged by the Law; for not the hearers of the Law are just before God, but the doers of the Law will be justified. For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these not having the Law, are a law to themselves, in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness, and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them, on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus.”
What Paul was telling us in these scriptures is that man is going to be without excuse when we stand before Jesus Christ, because even if we were not given the Law, we have it written upon our hearts and by following or not following that which our conscience dictates, that will determine our judgment. No man will be without excuse. So, what then is the advantage of the Ten Commandments? Paul goes on to say in Romans 3:19-20, “Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, that every mouth may be closed, and all the world may become accountable to God; because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.”
Paul is stating that whoever is under the Law, remember, that means the hearers and doers as well as those who obey it in their hearts, will be accountable to God and NO ONE will be justified in His sight because the Law brings us the knowledge of our sinfulness and the knowledge that we could never fulfill the Law to the point of being justified before God. The Law or the Commandments, whether written on stone or written on our hearts could only show us the hopelessness of trying to obey them. The problem is this; if we break even one commandment, then we’ve broken the whole. It was always an either do or die situation and NO ONE is good enough, no one can accomplish that, Romans 3:10-12.
Galatians 3:10 states, “For as many as are of the works of the Law are under the curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue inALLthings which are written in the book of the Law, to do them.” (emphasis mine).
Okay, we have an understanding of the Ten Commandments and its impact on man. It was given to show us our sin and our inability to reach God by means of our doing good. It shows us that there is no way that we can do everything written in the commandments. So then why all the fuss over the Ten Commandments, especially for Christians today?
Well, first you can view the Ten Commandments as a tool that the Lord uses. The reason He gave it so many centuries ago hasn’t changed. Human nature has not changed since the time of creation. As the Apostle John writes, man still suffers from the “lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life,” 1 John 2:16. Even a “good man” suffers and stumbles in one of these areas. We were born into sin because of Adam. There is no escape from it. The only hope we have is in God’s Son, Jesus Christ.
The Commandments, to those of us who have accepted the sacrifice of Christ, are still a sign from where we came from. They should remind us of the inability we had to have a relationship with the Father outside of His Son. Also, the Commandments are a guide as to what CAN be accomplished through faith in our Christ with the guidance of the Holy Spirit. We need to remember, that Jesus did not come to do away with the Commandments, but rather to fulfill them.
Paul states in Galatians 3:24, “Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.” The Commandments were our teacher. It showed us our dire need for Christ. Because human nature hasn’t changed, it still needs to teach others that there is no way they can come to the Father, outside of Christ. The tool it was meant to be for us, is meant to serve its purpose for those who still don’t believe, that they truly need salvation. It will remain that tool for that purpose until the last person who’s going to, gives their life to Christ.
“But we know that the law is good if one uses it lawfully, knowing this: that the law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and for sinners, for the unholy and profane, . . .” 1 Timothy 1:8-9.
Jesus Christ Himself stated this in Matthew 5:17-18, “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.” That fulfillment came to pass in Him, for He was the only One who was ever Good, who was able to fulfill every “jot and tittle.”
*Pastor’s Note: This is another short article I wrote in the late 90s along with some others for the Church section of the local newspaper where we lived in Globe, Arizona. I thought it might interest my readers and I HAVE updated some of the Scriptures references. All in all, it is pretty much as it was published in the Church editorial of the newspaper. The pictures were added for this posting.
“Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” – John 15:13.
This is one of the greatest scriptures in the Bible and one of the best known. When a person thinks of this scripture, several things come to mind. One, the great sacrifice that Jesus Christ paid for us while we were still sinners. Second, we think of the martyrdom necessary to make this real in our lives. Martyrdom entails death. Someone must give up their life essence for another to demonstrate the kind of love that most people think of in this scripture.
This past month, I lost one of my best friends to cancer. She is home with her Lord whom she loved with all her heart, but with that loss remains a legacy of the way she loved while she was among us. No, she wasn’t perfect, but she tried so hard to at least love people as much as she felt the Lord loved her. She didn’t just say, “I love you,” she practiced it. Because of this loss, it has given me pause to reflect on what love really is in the light of Scripture. One thing that Marie and I talked of consistently, was God’s love.
I want you to think of this scripture from another angle. Many of you reading this, live in the United States, and the act of martyrdom is very, very rare. There have been a few instances, yes, but in America, it doesn’t happen often that you are asked to die for your faith in Jesus Christ. Does this make this Scripture irrelevant to us? I should say not!
I want you to take a good hard look at your lifestyle, especially if you are an American. You may be very active in sports or hobbies, you may be a workaholic. Maybe, you are wrapped up in the things that your children are into and every little activity demands your attention. Maybe, you’re a couch potato and spend hours in front of your television screen. Whatever, the case maybe, the time you spend each day comprises your lifestyle. If it is devoted to the things that you desire to do or accomplish, your lifestyle revolves around yourself and that is what makes up your LIFE.
When, on the other hand, your lifestyle encompasses helping others fulfill their dreams and wishes, your LIFE revolves around others, especially if it is at the expense of setting what you desire aside. I hope that you see where this is going. When your life revolves around others, and less around yourself, you are effectively putting your life aside for another person. You are laying your life down, so that others may have more abundant life.
Laying down your life does not always entail a physical death. Jesus Christ already paid that ultimate price once and for all. Jesus Christ showed us that love is not just a word, but rather, it is demonstrated by action. In John 10:10, Jesus said, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” Jesus wanted His people to live and to do so more abundantly. But by the same token, we are to follow His example. His example was to love one another by doing, not by relying on a warm fuzzy feeling that you may have for someone. Real love, agape love, is love that is demonstrated, it is love that is a verb and not just a noun.
Jesus was considered a rebel because He didn’t just preach the Good News, but He demonstrated it and He commanded all those who would follow Him to do the same. The religious leaders of His time did not like that. They wanted to retain power and authority by their tongues and not their lifestyle example.
Sometimes actively loving another can seem harsh; at least to the one being genuinely loved, because true love demonstrates concern for the future and well-being of the loved one. If the Father in Heaven knows how to give us good gifts, and withholds from us things that are harmful to us, and He does so out of love, shouldn’t we also do the same if we truly want to demonstrate love? Is there any doubt that Jesus loved those He spoke to, including the religious leaders of His day? He died for them as well as for the common man, yet at times He spoke very harshly to them.
Love is not just a word we say to those we happen to like. Love is the actions that we demonstrate to one another. Here’s an example:
In a small town was a church that had been established for many, many years. The pastor and his wife were getting on in years and the church had provided them with many blessings. They were comfortable with the people that had stayed with them throughout the years and felt that that was their reward for establishing this church. One day, one of their fairly new members informed them of a man who desperately was seeking prayer for an illness he was suffering with. He did not attend any church, but felt that if he got prayer, God would do something for him. This established pastor explained that because he had relatives coming and they were getting ready to vacation in the mountains, he could not take the time to spend with someone unchurched.
This same member when turned away, went to a minister that not only didn’t have his own church, but was so tied up with a business that he had to run to support his family and ministry, he had very little time for any recreation of his own. This man dropped his business dealings, contacted another minister friend and went over to the sick man’s house and prayed for him as well as shared with him God’s love for him. This minister had nothing to gain from praying for this man. He didn’t expect him to be involved in his ministry in any way.
Now, you tell me which minister demonstrated real love. It’s not hard to see which one followed Jesus’ example. You may think me critical in this example, but I am no more critical than Jesus was to the religious leaders of His time. A lifestyle of love demands that when at all possible, others come before ourselves. That is what laying our lives aside for another is truly all about.
Loving, truly loving, by demonstration and action, is not what the world expects in this day and age. But then, it wasn’t in Jesus time either. The Apostle John wrote that we should not love with just word and tongue, but rather in deed and truth. (1 John 3:18). Great advice for a world that is hungry for the real thing!
Jude 1:14-15, ‘Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men also, saying, “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints, “to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.”
Continuing on we notice that after Jude’s severe statements about the character and nature of apostates and false teachers, he delves into their final outcome, giving more substance to the previous verse where he states that they are those “for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever.”
I mean, when you think of it, there is plenty of description already that you would think, would turn a rebellious person back to repentance and the light, but so great is there rejection that Jude goes on to describe their fallen character.
He starts by quoting a prophecy attributed to Enoch, the man who pleased God and because of his great faith, “walked with God and was not.” The story of Enoch himself is found in Genesis 5:19-24 and the writer of Hebrews makes mention of him concerning his faith in Hebrews 11:5-6. However, there is a lot of controversy as to whether this is the same Enoch as the Book of Enoch, though very popular it’s considered a non-canonical or an apocryphal book. Some denominations do include it with the rest of the books of the Bible, though mainstream churches do not. We know Enoch was a real person and as Jude writes, was seventh generation from Adam.
None-the-less, we already know that the Bible and the various writings within it, as is the letter of Jude, a writing that was inspired by the Holy Spirit. Jude wrote these two verses, under that inspiration, so controversy among scholars or not, we can have faith in what they say.
What Jude is stating in no uncertain terms is that even back in the time of Enoch, their doom was prophesied. So apostasy itself was prophesied against as well as those who walked in that apostasy!
Notice how the prophecy starts; “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints, . . .” Now we know from other writings in the Word of God that Jesus WILL come back after the Tribulation when He comes back to destroy His foes and set up His earthly reign for a thousand years.
Something interesting is the fact that Jesus coming back with heavenly hosts is mentioned elsewhere in the Bible as well. You can find reference to this fact in the Gospel of Matthew 16:27 and 24:31. In the Book of Daniel 7:10, Daniel speaks of God judging humanity in the presence of ten thousand times ten thousand angels. It is not just going to be the redeemed saints coming back with the Lord Jesus Christ, but a host of His heavenly armies. It gives me chills just thinking about it as I’m writing this!
Then think of this fact; that is going to be the beginning of that prophecy, but the fulfillment will be at the Great White Throne after the Millennium when the wicked dead will be judged! Now you can’t just stop there because Jude goes on to explain more. You see, we read that Christ comes “to execute judgment on all, . . .” If you were to stop right there, it could appear very dire indeed, yet we as saints of God, co-heirs with Christ have a promise. This is why it is so very important to read each verse of the Word in its proper context!
True believers will NOT be included in this judgment. Through our faith in Christ Jesus and our walk in the Spirit, we are exempt from that judgment. That is what Jesus bought for us. “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.” – John 5:24.
Jude is speaking about the UNGODLY as you continue to read and here is the interesting part; he uses that term four different times within that one statement. Let’s break it down here: the people themselves are ungodly, their very deeds are ungodly, they have performed those ungodly deeds in an ungodly way and to top it all off, they have demonstrated their ungodliness by the very blasphemies they speak against the Lord!
Now here is the crux of these two verses; the Lord Jesus Christ Who has been given the right AND authority to judge the world will convict these apostates of the whole ungodly business and not just in the sense of making them feel a deep sense of guilt, oh no, it goes much further than that. At this judgment sentence will be pronounced on them as a result of their proven guilt!
Now you look at all this and then go back to verse 13 from last week and reread that statement Jude made, “for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever.”
As I stated, Jude is not speaking lightly at all to the church. He is giving warning of what could happen if a person chooses, and again I say chooses, to make a decision to turn their backs on the Lord. It is not just a matter of turning their backs and going about life as usual, no, once walking in the Light and going back into the dark, their deeds become even worse than when they first turned to the light. This is the danger and tragedy of apostasy.
This is not to scare True Christians in the least, but you cannot deny that it is a warning! It is meant to make us aware of the enemy’s tricks and how easy it is to make choices that have eternal consequences. Now I know that those who follow the teachings of Calvin will find all sorts of ways to dispute this, but I am so sorry if I offend my Brothers and Sisters with Biblical Truth. You cannot twist the Scriptures to fit YOUR theology. The Bible was given to man as a Living Word so that by it WE could be changed! It does not matter how great a man is, any man, religious or not, without studying to show yourself approved, you and you alone are responsible for your walk with the Lord.
It is long past time and especially in the age we are now living to cling to traditions that have caused division and dispute. That does not, nor did it ever, originate from the Holy Spirit of God. We must do all we can to reconcile the Word of God with its Truth and I mean ALL of it and not just parts.
The Apostle Paul was a man accustomed to controversy and dispute and yet the Holy Spirit graced him with such wisdom and we, the Lord’s followers and disciples are the beneficiaries of this fact. In closing this segment, I’m going to quote a well-known and popular verse and I exhort and encourage everyone to try as best they can to take it to heart and make it a real part of your walk with the Lord.
“I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” – Ephesians 4:1-6.
There are not many faiths, just as there are not many gods. There is only One God, the True God, our Heavenly Father. Our faith is in Him and in Him alone THROUGH Christ Jesus empowered by the Holy Spirit! I ask you this; where is the endeavoring, the striving, the pursuing to keep that UNITY of the Spirit (the unity of the Holy Spirit of Christ, NOT ours) as we, as Christ’s co-heirs are bound, bonded together, hopefully in the Fruit of the Spirit known as Peace? I hope this truly gives you all something to think and meditate on. God Bless greatly!
*Pastor’s Note: I had someone ask me recently about what a watchman was and the role of a watchman especially in our day and age. This is what I put together for them and I hope it clarifies at least to a small degree what a watchman is and does.
The role of watchman is vital and necessary, and it is something that we should all be about. Unfortunately most churches teach very little about it. I was fortunate enough to have a pastor early on who was very insightful and taught on it.
It may not seem at first that the Scriptures speak a lot about it, but in fact there are references all through out the Bible. First let me say that being a watchman is not necessarily a spiritual gift as the gifts of the Spirit are described in Corinthians and Romans, but actually more of a duty as we abide in Christ. I will explain that in a bit.
A watchman also doesn’t necessarily have to preach or teach in the sense of the ministry gifts, but the duty of the watchman is none-the-less as important as I hope I can show you. In truth, it should be the duty, to some degree or another of everyone that follows after Christ Jesus and claims to be a disciple.
Many people today do not understand its significance in our spiritual lives. In the times of the prophets, a watchman was a common thing. A watchman usually stood upon the walls of the city and kept an eye out for danger that no one else could see. If danger presented itself, then he was to warn the people of the city. If on the other hand, he didn’t warn them, he usually paid with his life first.
When the Lord spoke to Ezekiel, He told Ezekiel that He was appointing him to be a watchman. Not in the sense of protecting the city, but in the sense of protecting the people from judgement. Ezekiel as the prophet was being held responsible for telling the people exactly what the Lord would say to them as a people. If Ezekiel did that and the people at that time changed their ways and repented, then the people would be spared judgement and so would Ezekiel. If on the other hand, Ezekiel didn’t warn the people or inform them of God’s words, the people would be held accountable and so would Ezekiel. Then God told Ezekiel one other thing. If Ezekiel told the people what the Lord wanted them to hear and they still decided to go their own way, the people would be held accountable for their own actions, but Ezekiel would still be saved because he obeyed God.
Now Ezekiel was God’s prophet to the people of that time and in fact he was a peer of Nehemiah’s who was also a prophet of God. God could have chosen anyone at that time to be the watchman or the oracle as the prophets were known, and just as God is the One who assigns our spiritual gifts through the Holy Spirit, He assigned Ezekiel to this task.
Now let me take a moment to explain a bit about a prophet, especially as the office or ministry gift is as stated in Corinthians. Forgive me if I get too wordy. Most people believe that a prophet prophesies and only tells of future events and the like. In truth a spiritual prophet is one who declares the truth of God’s word, and usually in no uncertain terms; in other words, he doesn’t mince words but tells it just like it is. He is like the one who stands and clarifies what God expects from us through God’s word. He is like God’s truth Sayer. A prophet and especially a modern-day prophet does have a tendency to being rather legalistic and in the Old testament this was part of God’s plan, because they certainly expounded the Law. Today however, we live in the dispensation of Grace and though God’s Word does not change, Jesus Christ came to fulfill the Law and we walk in faith in His already accomplished work. The modern-day prophet still expounds the truth of the Word without compromise, but does so with Christ Jesus BEING the Word.
Understand, that not everyone who teaches or preaches the word of God, is a prophet. A prophet has the power of the Holy Spirit behind them to declare the truth of the word of God with power and anointing. You can see the evidence in that when Jesus spoke to the crowds and the multitudes. The Bible says so many times that He spoke with power and authority.
Now, you do not have to be a prophet to be a watchman, but most people who take upon themselves the chore of a watchman, do so through the anointing of the Holy Spirit, and to be a watchman they usually have the spiritual strength of a modern day prophet. A person who takes on the duty, has a strong, intimate knowledge, not just a belief, of what is right and wrong. There is very little gray area. The believe firmly in the literal sense of the Scriptures.
Their attitude is this; if God says it in His word, there shouldn’t be any doubt. If God says do it, you do it. If God says don’t, you don’t. No excuses. People not only in the world but many in the community church setting, look upon that person as stubborn, not willing to bend. “After all who do they think they are?” and “who gave them the right to judge, after all?” These are common comments that hear about a person who is walking in the ministry gift of prophet. Another one is, “He certainly is harsh and unloving.” In truth a person like that is sincerely motivated by an eternal Godly love for others.
But a person who is a watchman has a deep, deep concern for not only the lost in the world, but also their brothers and sisters that they may see not living up to their full potential in the Lord. They may seem legalistic to their brothers and sisters, when in fact, they are motivated by their deep love and concern for their eternal welfare.
The modern day watchman is quick to point out the dangers when a person starts walking a path contrary to Scripture, not as judge, but as a warning for their souls. No true, loving Christian, wants to see anybody lost. Hell was meant for the rebellious angels, never for man. That is why a watchman has such deep compassion for those who will not listen to the truth.
But–if the watchman does what he is supposed to do, and warns those he is bound to protect and they refuse, the watchman is not held accountable, but the person who ignores the warnings is. We should all as Christians be watchman and especially for those that are lost, but also for those brothers and sisters that walk contrary to Biblical principles, and yet, once they are warned, the watchman has done his job.
Paul stated in the Book of Acts Chapter 20:28-31;
“Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.”
This is a perfect example for the modern day watchman. We have to keep our eyes and ears open. We have to be wary of the world around us, but also those that are amongst us, or we allow the wolves in sheep’s clothing to come in and slaughter the lambs under our care. We need to stay sensitive to the Holy Spirit, we need to always draw closer to Jesus in prayer. We need to ask and use discernment wisely. Then we need to speak when danger is near. That is what a watchman does, that is why we need watchmen so desperately in our day and age.
Remember also the parable of the ten virgins and their lamps. The five wise ones were faithful watchmen. They weren’t waiting for danger, but they never gave up looking to the return of our Master. I can imagine, that they were constantly after the five foolish virgins to keep their lamps trimmed and filled. So it should be for us. We must keep our eyes focused and glued on Jesus Christ for He WILL be returning soon and His coming as prophesied will be as a “thief in the night” when many are not expecting it.
We must be like the five wise ones. Ever vigilant, watching for danger, exhorting the truth when we see wrongdoing, but also keeping our eyes open for the return of our Master and Lord.
As I stated there are so many Scriptures I could go into in depth and a study on The Watchman of the Lord is truly fascinating. I hope this gives at least some insight into this important role within the Church.
Remember, we ALL have gifts to give when it comes to serving the Lord and in Christ’s TRUE Church, there is no such thing as “just a pew warmer.” Hopefully, Pastor’s and Teachers are doing more to teach the principles of the Ministry Gifts.
*Pastor’s Note: I was looking through some of the poetry I had archived from the past and ran across this one from a long-time Sister-in-Christ. Enjoy and be blessed.
*Pastor’s Note: This is one of the articles I wrote and posted for my very first website in the mid 90s soon after I got my first computer. I thought it might interest my readers to read some of my first posted writings. I HAVE updated some of the Scripture references, but all in all, it is pretty much as I posted them on my very first website. The pictures and song were added for this posting, though.
This is the title of a pop song of a several decades ago, that was rejuvenated in the movie, My Girl as well as American Graffiti!
My love must be a kind of blind love I can’t see anyone but you.
Are the stars out tonight? I don’t know if it’s cloudy or bright I Only Have Eyes For You, Dear.
The moon maybe high but I can’t see a thing in the sky, ‘Cause I Only Have Eyes For You.
I don’t know if we’re in a garden, or on a crowded avenue.
You are here So am I Maybe millions of people go by, but they all disappear from view. And I Only Have Eyes For You.
Words & Music by Al Dubin & Harry Warren, 1933
Recorded by The Flamingos, 1956
It’s a popular song but very fitting in a spiritual sense as well. Before I go on, I’m not saying it is spiritual, but it has some spiritual significance for this can demonstrate the importance of an intimate relationship with God, the Father, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Where are your eyes looking? Are they centered on the Father or are they focused and centered elsewhere? Matthew 6:24-25 says, “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?”
What Jesus was telling us is a very important principle in our relationship with the Father. Remember, Jesus came to point the way to the Father. His whole purpose, His whole mission was to open the door for us to regain the intimacy that was lost through Adam’s disobedience.
We can keep our eyes focused and centered on our Heavenly Father, whom we call Lord, or we can keep our eyes focused or centered on our own wants and needs. We already know that Jesus said our needs would be met, so if we trust what He tells us, we don’t have to focus on them. If we choose too though, then we are not trusting what the Lord has told us as truth. This is an action on our part to NOT make the Father, our Lord or Master.
It is too easy for us in this day and age to say all the right Christian words, to talk the talk and to follow the traditional rituals established in our churches. But it is a far more telling thing to walk the walk by our actions and it is this walk that allows the world to see the Light of the Lord and the Gospel! It is by our actions in our everyday lives that determine who our Master truly is. Remember, we can say that Jesus is Lord, that our Heavenly Father is Lord, but that term Lord denotes the principle of being Master! Do we just call Him Lord, or is He really our Lord?
What is all this leading too you might ask? The lessons that I have prepared, the teachings that follow are all based in one way or another on this principle of who is your Master. It is too easy today to keep our eyes focused on what we want, no matter how we try and justify it with scripture. Some of the lessons that I have prepared are shedding Scriptural light on some of the doctrines that have created such divisiveness in the Body of Christ that they have effectively obscured the genuine love that we are commanded to walk in.
Anything that creates confusion, divisiveness, etc., is not of the Lord but of the enemy of our souls. These things may not undermine our walk with the Lord, but it does undermine our effectiveness in the world when it comes to demonstrating the Lord’s love to all peoples! Remember, we are not called to selfishness, but rather to share the Love of the Lord, the Light of the Gospel with a lost and dying world!
I have prayed, I have studied and I have sought the Holy Spirit for wisdom for many years concerning my teaching. The truth of the matter is this as stated by the Apostle John in 1 John 2:26-27, “These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you. But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.”
You have the Holy Spirit and His witness within you. The teaching I do is only to confirm that witness that is already in your spirit. We know that one of the ministry gifts given to the Body of Christ, the True Church is teachers. John isn’t saying that you don’t need teachers, what he is affirming is that as a child of the Father, the Holy Spirit dwells within you and you have the anointing that reaffirms to you the truth of what is being taught!
This is one of my favorite Scriptures and has been the basis of most of my teaching over the years, and it concerns our individual responsibility to understanding the Scriptures for ourselves. It is what Luke wrote in the Book of Acts, 17:11-12 speaking of the people of Berea, “These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, andsearched the Scriptures dailyto find out whether these things were so. Therefore many of them believed, and also not a few of the Greeks, prominent women as well as men.” (Bold emphasis added).
They took their responsibility for their own salvation very seriously and the Apostolic Physician said they “were more noble minded than the Thessalonians” who by the way, tried to prevent the Gospel from being taught.
As you read these lessons and studies, please keep your heart and spirit on the Holy Spirit and remember that He will lead you into all truth. Psalm 25:4-5, “Show me Your ways, O LORD; Teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; On You I wait all the day.”
Psalm 43:3-4, “Oh, send out Your light and Your truth! Let them lead me; Let them bring me to Your holy hill And to Your tabernacle. Then I will go to the altar of God, To God my exceeding joy; And on the harp I will praise You, O God, my God.”
Notice what surrendering to Him does; it brings you boldly before Him with Praise and Joy! This is what keeping your eyes focused on the Lord does. This is what it means to make and keep Him Master of your life! As you read these lessons, keep in mind the principle, the “Spirit” of the Word which gives life, that when we look elsewhere than to the Lord, our eyes are no longer on Him. This goes for our material wants, our physical well-being or anything that we are concerned about for ourselves as compared to our concern for others.
My hope, my prayer, is that you are blessed, that you are inspired and even empowered in the Holy Spirit to walk in obedience to the True Master, our Heavenly Father, through His Son, Jesus Christ!!
I don’t usually do this outside of our Music Ministry, but for your enjoyment I have included the Flamingos singing, “I Only Have Eyes For You”
Exodus 22:22-23, “You shall not afflict any widow or orphan. If you afflict him at all, and if he does cry out to Me, I will surely hear his cry; . . .”
Romans 12:15-16, “Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation.”
People As a Means
Robert Caro noted that the men President Lyndon Johnson used in his climb to political power resented only that his manipulative skills exceeded their own. The idea of using people as a means to an end did not bring remorse or surprise to either side. Each simply wanted to weigh the scales in its favor: use more than it got used and intrigue to be ahead at the end. Exploitation is the world’s way. People concentrate on self-aggrandizement, not service; of taking from others, not giving.
It is a violent betrayal of Christ’s life and teaching. He demonstrated the importance of individuals as an end in themselves, not as a means by which others can prosper. This has significant consequences for each Christian. Can we rejoice in the wealth of another, even if we don’t prosper? Can we thank God for another’s success, even if we fail? Can we delight in the advancing career of another, even if ours languishes?
Nations would be terrified if they knew by what small men they were ruled. – Charles Talleyrand
It is with men as with wheat: the light heads are erect even in the presence of Omnipotence, but the full heads bow in reverence before Him. – Unknown
The final estimate of men shows that history cares not an iota for the rank or title a man has borne, or the office he has held, but only the quality of his deeds and the character of his mind and heart. – Samuel Brengle
As I grow older, I pay less attention to what men say. I just watch what they do. – Andrew Carnegie
*Pastor’s Note: Worry and anxiety are a form of fear. Your thoughts are focused on the problem(s) in front of you rather than the Problem-Solver Who has promised to take care of your every need.
Most importantly, our Heavenly Father’s promises are sure and steadfast. Here are just a few verses you can take comfort in when your mind starts to focus more on the obstacles and problems in your life:
2 Corinthians 1:20, “For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.”
2 Timothy 1:7, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”
Hebrews 10:23, “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.”
James 1:16-17, “Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.”
2 Peter 3:9, “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, . . .”
Dear Father in Heaven, Almighty God;
Not only Your Word speaks of Your glory and majesty, but life experience itself, teaches us just how magnificent You truly are! Lord, we give You praise and adoration and ask that You increase our ability to give You even more of what You deserve and is rightly Yours.
Dearest Father, You above all know our hearts AND our needs. You truly know the things that perplex us and cause us worry. We know Your Word tells us there is no need for that, but Lord there are times we are just so weak and we truly need the strength of Your Holy Spirit to stay more focused on You and less focused upon the problems in front of us.
Lord, we DO believe, but help our unbelief and help us to grow ever more in faith as we walk with You. Your Word tells us we can’t please You without faith and Father, our hearts desire IS to be pleasing to You as sons and daughters! Help our faith to grow.
Thank You dearest Lord that Your Word is true and it is proof of Your unfailing love to us by the very fact that You ALWAYS fulfill Your promises to Your children.
Lord we truly believe that You are in control, and yet Lord, we see all that is happening in the world AND the neighborhoods around us and it does cause alarm. We know that fear is doubt and doubt is lack of faith. We cling to Your Word which tells us, that you have NOT given us a spirit of fear, but rather you have given us power, love AND a sound mind! Another promise that comes directly from You. Thank You for such a great gift.
Lord, when we doubt and fear, it is like placing a cover over the Light that You wish to shine upon the world around us. Lord, give us the strength to see that fact so that we might walk amongst the storm going on around us, shining Your Light for the world to see. That way, if and when we are asked how we can remain so calm, we have an answer to give that will shed light upon the truth of Your promises and open the door to others to see Your glory!
Thank You so much, in advance for taking care of the needs and the problems that life in general presents. Thank You for the blessings that always go above and beyond our needs and Father in Heaven, thank You for Your precious Spirit that is the greatest gift we can receive from You while walking this pilgrimage. Let the Light of Your Spirit not just illuminate the way in front of us, but chase the darkness all around us so that others may also see the Light.
Again, dear Lord, we give You all the praise and exultation you deserve and we truly magnify Your Name above all else. We thank You for Your gifts of peace, joy and calm in an ever increasing storm and we thank You for our prayers answered in advance.
Lord, we pray these things, we ask these things and we give You all glory in the precious Name of Your Son, our Lord and Redeemer, Jesus Christ.
All articles posted, whether mine or other resources I have purchased for this ministry, are NOT submitted for the means of awards, material, or financial gain. Rather, they are submitted with the intention of instruction, and the building up of the Body of Christ; ultimately ALL for the glory of God, alone.
"And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him." - Colossians 3:17
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John Charles Ryle (May 10, 1816 – June 10, 1900) was an evangelical Anglican clergyman and first Bishop of Liverpool. He was renowned for his powerful preaching and extensive tracts. John C. Ryle was a big man, physically, intellectually, scripturally and spiritually. The fact is that Ryle, though very definitely a Victorian of the Victorians, seemed to be able to leave behind him the verbosity and sentimentality of many of his contemporaries so that his writings still speak today, not only to the older generations, but to younger Christians as well.
Jesus Christ Himself stated this in 
