Becoming a Watchman

Intro

Communisim, solialism, pluralism, liberalism, progressivism, Athism, agnostoism, spiritualism, leftism, satanism,

These are just a tiny selection of evil ism’s that Satan had set forth against the world, against the church, and more specifically, against your family.

There is no end to the evils that Satan and fallen humans will go to to invent evil.

Romans 1:29–32 AV

29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

Every single day, the World, the Flesh and the Devil launch an all out attack on the christian family. Attacking their morals, thir values, their communications, their relationships and their roles within the family.

The communists tell us that goverment should have total control over peoples lives. The socialists tell us that all people should be equally poor. The Liberals tell us that men can be woman. The progressives tells us that homosexuality is fine, the spiritualits tell us that god is in everyone, the pluralists tell us that all religions are the same, the athiests say god does notb exist, the agnostics say that they dont know anything, leftists say that you are a racist and satanists say that eviul is good.

And all of these are taught in schools, univercities and embraced by leadres, celebrities, even some churchs.

Truly what God says is true:

Ephesians 5:16 AV

16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

In these evil days it is vital that we stand gaurd at the gates and on the walls of our familes to protect and warn them of these dangers.

This was the task that God called the prophet Ezikial to do for Israel, and it is the task God calls each of to do for our families and our church.

Ezekiel 33:1–11 AV

1 Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 2 Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say unto them, When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man of their coasts, and set him for their watchman: 3 If when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people; 4 Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head. 5 He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul. 6 But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman’s hand. 7 So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me. 8 When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. 9 Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul. 10 Therefore, O thou son of man, speak unto the house of Israel; Thus ye speak, saying, If our transgressions and our sins be upon us, and we pine away in them, how should we then live? 11 Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?

What kind of a watchman are you? Are you activally pratrolling your family or are you sleeping on the job?

Let me tell you: It is much easier to prevent evil from getting in than it is to get it out once it has already gotten in.

And the reality is that it wants to get in:

Genesis 4:7 AV

7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.

We have a responcibility as stewrds of our familes to watch over them, gaurd them, protect them from all evil. And the wat to do that is to be a watchman.

What are the duties of a watchman?

1: Master his own heart first:

a courrupted watchman is a useless watchamn. Before we can watch over other, we must fist makes sure that our own lives are secure.

Splinter in brother vs plank in own.

Philippians 4:7 AV

7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

As a pastor and leader of this church and this churches watchamn, let me tell you of an intyresting dynamic: The Servan is never greater than the master.

What this means is that as a pastor, the master if you will, i have a huge responcibility: No one under my leadership can actually surpass me in spiritual wisdom and grace. The Pastor sets the spiritual cealing of the local church.

As the parents, and in particular i speak to the men as heads of the house, this same dynamic applies to you: You set the spiritual thermostate of the family.

You must let the peace of God gaurd your heart and mind first. Then that peace can guard the hearts and minds of your children and wife.

2: He must be sober and vigilent

A sleeping watchman is also a useless watchman.

1 Peter 5:8 AV

8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

Do you know what has never happened in last 10 000 years? The devil has NEVER taken a day off.

A good watchman is always on the look out for the tell tale sights of the lion: A breakdown of comminication between husband/wife and p[arents/children.

Increased aurguing and petty squabbeling.

Disrespect between loved ones and evil thoughts.

All of these are signs that Satan is busy at work.

3: he must recognise evil when he sees it.

I heard a report from a security company: An alrm went off, they came and saw a man in the yard, he waved them doewn and told them someone had broken into his house. They went in with them and helped him search the whole propery for the inruder, when no one could be found he signed the call out form and they went away. turned out HE WAS THE CRIMINAL!

The enemy often uses a trojan hourse to gain entry my friends.

We must not forget that Satan is a liar and the Father of lies. No good everr came from ladies only nights or mens only nights with the boys. Ladies if you man wants a boys night remind him that he is not a boy, he is supposed to be a man and shouls start acting like one.

All of these seem like good harmnless idea’s but as a pastor who has done more marriage counselling than i can rember they are trojan hourses.

The bible warns us:

Isaiah 5:20 AV

20 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

There is nothing good about secrets. There is nothing good about seperations. there is nothing good in experimentation, there is nothing good in taking a break when you are married.

and finally

4: He must fight it.

1 Timothy 6:12 AV

12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

Let me tell you about marriage: It is very difficult at times. BUT

I have not been married long: almost 15 years. But in thiose 15 years i can count on hand the fights me and kim have had.

We simply do not fight, do you know why?

Fist, becume i oberyed God when he commanded:

2 Corinthians 6:14 AV

14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

I made sure to marry someone who has the same values, principles and worldview as i have. It took me 23 years to find that person and it took kim 26 years, but we both agreed not to settle for anything less.

But secondly:

I do not fight or aurgue with kim because i spend that time aurgues with myself.

Many couples waste their time bearing up their spouses, but thats not the biblical way:

1 Corinthians 9:27 AV

27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

1 Corinthians 9:27 NIV84

27 No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

I beat, i discipline my own self to make myself obedint unto God.

I discipline myself from addiction because addiction can destroy a family.

I discipline muyself from pronography because porn destroying marriages.

I disciplne my spending because finances can cause terrible fights.

I disciple myself from being moody and short tempered because that will cause tension and fights.

I discipline myself from laziness and doing my duties because that will cause a husband and wife to fight like cats and dogs.

I dont have time to fight with Kim and make her perfect because i am to busy fighting and working and perfecting myself.

conclusion:

what kind of watchman are you? are you and is your family an easy ungaurded target for Satan?