Watchmen for Jerusalem
“I have posted watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; they will never be silent day or night. You who call on the LORD, give yourselves no rest, and give him no rest till he establishes Jerusalem and makes her the praise of the earth.”
Isaiah 62:6-7
As I have told you so many times previously in this watchmen series, I passionately desire for you and me to be women who know how to look at current events from God’s viewpoint. Prophecy after prophecy is being fulfilled in our lifetime. We must understand what is going on in our world from God’s viewpoint on His throne. Today we focus again on Jerusalem in our series because God keeps focusing me on His city.
One of the main signs that Jesus’ return is very near is Jerusalem. When Jesus was telling of the signs of the end and His return, He said of Jerusalem in Luke 21:24, “They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.” Jesus told us of both the fall of Jerusalem and that one day the Jews would take back Jerusalem.
In the first century, Rome ruled the known world. The Roman armies surrounded Jerusalem. They closed all exits from Jerusalem including the tunnels under the wall. The siege continued for months. All hope for escape withered and vanished away. Tens of thousands of Jews were trapped behind the walls. The people in the city starved. In this military slaughter, Titus killed over one million people in Jerusalem, and 97,000 were taken as prisoners to Rome. Some were fed to the lions as entertainment for the Roman citizens in their coliseum. The strong became gladiators who fought to the death. Some were burned alive…Men and women…Young and old…Many of the Jews did not heed Jesus’ warning in His prophecy in Matthew 24:17-18 to flee so quickly that they didn’t go from the roof into the house to take anything or the one in the field to not return to get his cloak. The majority of the other Jews fled or were driven out of the land. This time is known in Israel as the Diaspora. The descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were scattered to the ends of the earth. They did not return to their homeland as a nation until 1948.
Jerusalem means “dwelling of peace.” No other city on earth holds God’s heart like Jerusalem does. On the day of the triumphal entry, Jesus wept over the city of Jerusalem because He knew what was going to happen to the people. The Greek word for wept is the strongest word to express one’s grief. Jesus lamented, wailed, shed tears, and had every external expression of grief. He cried because they did not know what would bring them peace. Our God loves Jerusalem, and He did not reject the Jewish people. The city of peace rejected the Prince of Peace.
In the Six Day war in 1967, the Jewish people took control of Jerusalem for the first time since 70 A.D. The sign that Jerusalem is no longer under Gentile control has been fulfilled. The reoccupation of Jerusalem has come true in our time. However, the kingdom of the air longs to strip away pieces of land to thwart God’s plan and stop the countdown to His Son’s return.
In every generation, God has posted a watchman to pray for Jerusalem. They are to call on the Lord until He establishes Jerusalem and makes her the praise of the earth. We are not to be silent. When you and I pray and call out to God for Jerusalem, we are fulfilling God’s Word. If God is so passionate about Jerusalem, then we should be relentless in our prayers to our Father about Jerusalem. May the Lord Almighty give us His heart for Jerusalem!
Pray with me: Lord of Hosts, Jehovah Sabaoth, You are all powerful and worthy of all praise. Praise You that the Gentiles no longer control Jerusalem. You have fulfilled Your Word and continue to prove that You are God alone. May all plans to take away any part of Jerusalem from the Jewish people be thwarted. Raise up leaders who understand Your heart and will not relinquish the land.
Someday the King of Glory will come to Jerusalem. We long for that day. When Jerusalem is secure (Zechariah 14:11), then there will be peace on earth. Lord, You put Your Name on Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 6:6) and said You would dwell there forever (Psalm 68:16). You love this city and its people. Give us a heart for Jerusalem. Strip the veils so we can see how much it means to You. Establish Jerusalem and make her the praise of the earth. We long for the day when there are no more moms crying because of what has happened to their children. We cry out for peace – true peace, everlasting peace. It is in the Name of the Prince of Peace that we pray, in Jesus’ Name, Yeshua’s Name. Amen.
Copyright ©2009 Christ Compels
"For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again." 2 Corinthians 5:14-15
Showing posts with label watchman on the wall. Show all posts
Showing posts with label watchman on the wall. Show all posts
Friday, March 20, 2009
Friday, March 6, 2009
Watchmen Who Are not Deceived
Watchmen Who Are not Deceived
"Jesus answered: "Watch out that no one deceives you.For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect-if that were possible."
Matthew 24:4, 24
When Jesus left the temple for the last time, He prophesied that not one stone would be left upon another. It prompted His disciples to ask Him in Matthew 24:3, "When will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?" Then Jesus begins to tell His chosen disciples the signs. He starts with a strong command for His people to watch out so that no one deceives them. Watch out! Beware! Deception will be prevalent in the end.
In the last days, satan's pawns will be released to perform great signs and miracles. False Christs and false prophets will capture the attention of many. They will use this power to woo and to lure the people of the earth. They will appear so believable that people will put their trust in them. The deception will be so great that if it were possible for believers to be deceived, they would be.
Deception is Satan's number one battle tactic. He knows how to twist God's Word just enough where if we didn't take in the full counsel of His Word, we would believe the lie he is serving us. He desires to lure us away from Jesus and to make Him appear to be different than He really is. Deception can be beautiful, enticing, and of course, believable. Remember that Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning (2 Corinthians 11:3). He thrives on outwitting believers and the lost.
We may attend church or sing in the choir with someone who is deceived. Some may be masquerading as Christians because it seems like the right thing to do. Some may be snared before they realized what hit them. Some may be deceived because they have become stagnant in their relationship with God. Maybe they have never experienced true intimacy with God that makes their pulse quicken or takes their breath away. They have never been filled with a godly passion. When these false teachers offer to fill them with a counterfeit passion, they believe it.
2 Thessalonians 2:9-10 holds the clue to how we do not fall into deception. It says the antichrist will have great supernatural power and will deceive many who refuse to love truth to be saved. So how do we watch out? If people are deceived when they refuse to love truth, then we become lovers of truth. You and I cannot recognize deception by searching for it. You and I recognize deception by comparing it to God's Word. When we immerse ourselves in His Word, we can instantly sort truth from deception.
Additionally, when we saturate ourselves in God's Word, we find the greatest passion in all of life. We find the source of living that makes our hearts beat hot. We realize that our hearts were made to be thrilled. Only the Living God can do all of this. No false prophet can begin to catch our eye. We will only have eyes for Jehovah.
Oh, precious one, are you prepared for this age of deception? The evil one knows his time is short, and he will be furious and increase deception. Are you prepared for a deception that is so strong that if it were possible it would deceive the elect? If so, then stand with me as the bride makes herself ready for the return of her betrothed. Let's arm ourselves with the Word and let's pray.
Pray with me: Oh, God, we ask that You help us to be a people on watch. Do not let us be deceived, Lord. As the Day approaches, deception will increase. Prepare us so that we may be able to recognize deceiving teachers and deceived people. We don't ask this so that we may judge but so that we may discern. Give us wisdom and the words to speak when our beliefs must be shared. Your enemy knows every sign of the last days so please help us, Your people, to know them so that we can act on them. Your enemy has great cunning so we cannot be ignorant but must be Word bearers and hold Your Word in our hearts. It's in the Name above all names, in Jesus' Name, Yeshua's Name, we pray. Amen.
"Jesus answered: "Watch out that no one deceives you.For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect-if that were possible."
Matthew 24:4, 24
When Jesus left the temple for the last time, He prophesied that not one stone would be left upon another. It prompted His disciples to ask Him in Matthew 24:3, "When will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?" Then Jesus begins to tell His chosen disciples the signs. He starts with a strong command for His people to watch out so that no one deceives them. Watch out! Beware! Deception will be prevalent in the end.
In the last days, satan's pawns will be released to perform great signs and miracles. False Christs and false prophets will capture the attention of many. They will use this power to woo and to lure the people of the earth. They will appear so believable that people will put their trust in them. The deception will be so great that if it were possible for believers to be deceived, they would be.
Deception is Satan's number one battle tactic. He knows how to twist God's Word just enough where if we didn't take in the full counsel of His Word, we would believe the lie he is serving us. He desires to lure us away from Jesus and to make Him appear to be different than He really is. Deception can be beautiful, enticing, and of course, believable. Remember that Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning (2 Corinthians 11:3). He thrives on outwitting believers and the lost.
We may attend church or sing in the choir with someone who is deceived. Some may be masquerading as Christians because it seems like the right thing to do. Some may be snared before they realized what hit them. Some may be deceived because they have become stagnant in their relationship with God. Maybe they have never experienced true intimacy with God that makes their pulse quicken or takes their breath away. They have never been filled with a godly passion. When these false teachers offer to fill them with a counterfeit passion, they believe it.
2 Thessalonians 2:9-10 holds the clue to how we do not fall into deception. It says the antichrist will have great supernatural power and will deceive many who refuse to love truth to be saved. So how do we watch out? If people are deceived when they refuse to love truth, then we become lovers of truth. You and I cannot recognize deception by searching for it. You and I recognize deception by comparing it to God's Word. When we immerse ourselves in His Word, we can instantly sort truth from deception.
Additionally, when we saturate ourselves in God's Word, we find the greatest passion in all of life. We find the source of living that makes our hearts beat hot. We realize that our hearts were made to be thrilled. Only the Living God can do all of this. No false prophet can begin to catch our eye. We will only have eyes for Jehovah.
Oh, precious one, are you prepared for this age of deception? The evil one knows his time is short, and he will be furious and increase deception. Are you prepared for a deception that is so strong that if it were possible it would deceive the elect? If so, then stand with me as the bride makes herself ready for the return of her betrothed. Let's arm ourselves with the Word and let's pray.
Pray with me: Oh, God, we ask that You help us to be a people on watch. Do not let us be deceived, Lord. As the Day approaches, deception will increase. Prepare us so that we may be able to recognize deceiving teachers and deceived people. We don't ask this so that we may judge but so that we may discern. Give us wisdom and the words to speak when our beliefs must be shared. Your enemy knows every sign of the last days so please help us, Your people, to know them so that we can act on them. Your enemy has great cunning so we cannot be ignorant but must be Word bearers and hold Your Word in our hearts. It's in the Name above all names, in Jesus' Name, Yeshua's Name, we pray. Amen.
Friday, January 9, 2009
Watchmen on the Walls
Watchmen on the Walls
“The word of the LORD came to me: ‘Son of man, speak to your countrymen and say to them: 'When I bring the sword against a land, and the people of the land choose one of their men and make him their watchman, and he sees the sword coming against the land and blows the trumpet to warn the people, then if anyone hears the trumpet but does not take warning and the sword comes and takes his life, his blood will be on his own head. Since he heard the sound of the trumpet but did not take warning, his blood will be on his own head. If he had taken warning, he would have saved himself. But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet to warn the people and the sword comes and takes the life of one of them, that man will be taken away because of his sin, but I will hold the watchman accountable for his blood.' ’
‘Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me.’ ”
Ezekiel 33:1-7
In ancient times, watchmen on the walls kept a constant vigil on the city walls against the raiding enemy. The main earthly protection for a city was to fortify itself with a wall and place watchmen on it. These men would watch through the day and night. They would scan the horizon. At the first sign of trouble, they would grab their trumpets and blow a warning signal to the rest of the people in the community. The people knew when they heard the trumpets blow that they were to stop their daily routine or awaken from their sleep and mobilize into action to defend their families, homes, and community.
Ezekiel was made a watchman for the house of Israel. God gave him the words to speak to warn the people if they did not turn from their idols and sin to Him. God pleaded with the people. He came to His prophets and put His words into their mouths, but the people still did not listen. They continued to worship other gods and not turn to the God Most High.
I have been so burdened for Jesus’ precious bride for several years now. I see pockets of Christians hearing the warning signal. They have been aroused from their sleep. They have stopped the entrapment of daily living on this earth and become purposeful about living for Christ. However, Jesus’ bride as a whole is still not true to her first love.
When we told God to get out of our public lives and out of our public schools, as Anne Graham Lotz says, “God, being a Gentleman, did.” We have turned to the god of entertainment, the god of our flesh, the god of money, the god of self, the god of comfort and indulgence, and the list could go on and on. We have nationally dismissed God. With 9/11 we saw the first of what could happen when God’s hand of protection was not upon us. God so desperately wanted us to wake up and look to Him. However, we hit the snooze alarm after that terrible tragedy hatched by evil men.
Just as Ezekiel warned the people of his day, many great and wonderful preachers and teachers are acting like watchmen on the wall for our nation and world and sending warnings. They are warning the bride of Christ to wake up! They are warning people to turn from their sin. As I write this devotion, I, too, am issuing a warning to us. You and I do not want 9/11 to be a prelude. However, we are on the pathway for some hard times on the kingdom calendar.
The church is in desperate need of a revival! You and I are the church My answer for revival nationally has been for years to be revived individually. I let God set me on fire and spit sparks to other people. I leave complacency behind and became contagious. Then, I have prayed for the ones whom God has spit sparks on through me and asked Him to turn them into a bonfire that all can see and become “spark spitters,” too.
Are any of you in need of a little fire of God’s Spirit? I want that. Gosh, I want that, beloved. I believe many of you want that, too. I know God wants so badly for us to respond to His Holy Spirit and to His watchmen and to walk in godliness and be the bonfire for all to see Him in this dark world. So may we let Him set us ablaze!
Pray with me: Almighty God, the world is in desperate need of a true spiritual awakening. The church is in desperate need of a great revival. Believers are in desperate need of a fresh infusion of faith. Please, hear us cry out to You and shower us with Your Spirit. These are going to be some hard days on the kingdom calendar. Lord, help us to be a people who know the signs of our times and stand as watchmen on the wall. Set us on fire with Your Holy Spirit, Lord. Set us ablaze! You are a consuming fire. Your Word is a fire in our bones, and we must share the good news. Lord, give us the courage to be “spark spitters” and to fan the flame burning in others. We want to be a contagious people and not fire quenchers. We don’t want to douse others with water but rather with Your fire. It’s in the Name above all names, in Jesus’ Name, Yeshua’s Name, we pray. Amen.
“The word of the LORD came to me: ‘Son of man, speak to your countrymen and say to them: 'When I bring the sword against a land, and the people of the land choose one of their men and make him their watchman, and he sees the sword coming against the land and blows the trumpet to warn the people, then if anyone hears the trumpet but does not take warning and the sword comes and takes his life, his blood will be on his own head. Since he heard the sound of the trumpet but did not take warning, his blood will be on his own head. If he had taken warning, he would have saved himself. But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet to warn the people and the sword comes and takes the life of one of them, that man will be taken away because of his sin, but I will hold the watchman accountable for his blood.' ’
‘Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me.’ ”
Ezekiel 33:1-7
In ancient times, watchmen on the walls kept a constant vigil on the city walls against the raiding enemy. The main earthly protection for a city was to fortify itself with a wall and place watchmen on it. These men would watch through the day and night. They would scan the horizon. At the first sign of trouble, they would grab their trumpets and blow a warning signal to the rest of the people in the community. The people knew when they heard the trumpets blow that they were to stop their daily routine or awaken from their sleep and mobilize into action to defend their families, homes, and community.
Ezekiel was made a watchman for the house of Israel. God gave him the words to speak to warn the people if they did not turn from their idols and sin to Him. God pleaded with the people. He came to His prophets and put His words into their mouths, but the people still did not listen. They continued to worship other gods and not turn to the God Most High.
I have been so burdened for Jesus’ precious bride for several years now. I see pockets of Christians hearing the warning signal. They have been aroused from their sleep. They have stopped the entrapment of daily living on this earth and become purposeful about living for Christ. However, Jesus’ bride as a whole is still not true to her first love.
When we told God to get out of our public lives and out of our public schools, as Anne Graham Lotz says, “God, being a Gentleman, did.” We have turned to the god of entertainment, the god of our flesh, the god of money, the god of self, the god of comfort and indulgence, and the list could go on and on. We have nationally dismissed God. With 9/11 we saw the first of what could happen when God’s hand of protection was not upon us. God so desperately wanted us to wake up and look to Him. However, we hit the snooze alarm after that terrible tragedy hatched by evil men.
Just as Ezekiel warned the people of his day, many great and wonderful preachers and teachers are acting like watchmen on the wall for our nation and world and sending warnings. They are warning the bride of Christ to wake up! They are warning people to turn from their sin. As I write this devotion, I, too, am issuing a warning to us. You and I do not want 9/11 to be a prelude. However, we are on the pathway for some hard times on the kingdom calendar.
The church is in desperate need of a revival! You and I are the church My answer for revival nationally has been for years to be revived individually. I let God set me on fire and spit sparks to other people. I leave complacency behind and became contagious. Then, I have prayed for the ones whom God has spit sparks on through me and asked Him to turn them into a bonfire that all can see and become “spark spitters,” too.
Are any of you in need of a little fire of God’s Spirit? I want that. Gosh, I want that, beloved. I believe many of you want that, too. I know God wants so badly for us to respond to His Holy Spirit and to His watchmen and to walk in godliness and be the bonfire for all to see Him in this dark world. So may we let Him set us ablaze!
Pray with me: Almighty God, the world is in desperate need of a true spiritual awakening. The church is in desperate need of a great revival. Believers are in desperate need of a fresh infusion of faith. Please, hear us cry out to You and shower us with Your Spirit. These are going to be some hard days on the kingdom calendar. Lord, help us to be a people who know the signs of our times and stand as watchmen on the wall. Set us on fire with Your Holy Spirit, Lord. Set us ablaze! You are a consuming fire. Your Word is a fire in our bones, and we must share the good news. Lord, give us the courage to be “spark spitters” and to fan the flame burning in others. We want to be a contagious people and not fire quenchers. We don’t want to douse others with water but rather with Your fire. It’s in the Name above all names, in Jesus’ Name, Yeshua’s Name, we pray. Amen.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Watchwomen
My heart is very heavy for our country. Yes, I should be in celebratiom mode. Celebration for my anniversary. Celebration of Thanksgiving. I just can't help but see what is coming our way. I am a watchwomen on the wall. I have to warn people to get ready. GET READY, Beloved!! You and I can see the signs of the times and prepare for is coming our way. I'll tell you more in a new devotion on the www.christcompels.com website. I will keep telling you what God is showing me. We must not sleep through this, but must get ready!
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