DIGGING DEEP NO. 1044 July 16, 2024 Builders and Watchmen – Part II Psalm 127:1 NKJV Laboring and Prospering with the Lord A Song of Ascents. Of Solomon.

¹ Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it;

Unless the Lord guards the city, The watchman stays awake in vain.

The Bible IS NOT a book ABOUT PRAYER, although it’s filled with prayers.

The Bible IS NOT a book ABOUT CHRISTIANITY, although it has Christianity within it.

The Bible IS NOT a book ABOUT SIN, although it addresses sin.

The Bible IS NOT a book ABOUT MONEY…

The Bible IS a book ABOUT THE KING & HIS KINGDOM.

The GOSPEL is the REDEMPTIVE STORY of The KING’s Children BACK to HIS KINGDOM, through HIS son CHRIST JESUS by the testimony of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 6:33).

Desired Learning Objective:

1. What is a watcher?
2. What is a watchman? What are the responsibilities of a watchman?
3. Who was Ezekiel to GOD? What people was Ezekiel assigned?
4. How to become a watchman?

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QUESTION #1: What is a watcher?

DEFINITION OF TERMS:

Review: Sanctification, Holy, Perfect/Righteousness and Sin?

What does the Bible mean when it says: Prophet, Intercessor, Priest, and Sound of Trumpet?

Psalm 127:1 NKJV

¹ …Unless the Lord guards the city, The watchman stays awake in vain.

vs

According to Hollywood; “Watchmen” are dark and dystopian superheroes, antiheroes; it’s a deconstruction of the superhero genre, the 2009 film is set in an alternate 1985 America at the height of the Cold War, as a group of mostly retired American superheroes investigate the murder of one of their own before uncovering an elaborate and deadly conspiracy, to kill all superheroes and cover it up.

According to History; watchmen were organized groups of men, usually authorized by a state, government, city, or society, to deter criminal activity and provide law enforcement as well as traditionally perform the services of public safety, fire watch, crime prevention, crime detection, and recovery of stolen goods; think security guards. Watchmen have existed since earliest recorded times in various guises throughout the world and were generally succeeded by the emergence of formally organized professional policing. A watchman in the military is usually called a guard (gate guard), a sentry, or sentinels.

 

U.S. Marine Corps Sentry at night

According to the Bible; The term “Watchers,” (Aramaic, ןיריע meaning: “wakeful ones” Hebrew; holy ones”), loosely as “sons of Heaven”. Watchers are a class of angels, mentioned in the Bible only in Daniel 4:13, 17, 23.

Daniel 4:13 (NKJV)

¹³ “[Nebuchadnezzar] saw in the visions of my head while on my bed, and there was a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven.

Daniel 4:16–18 (NKJV)

¹⁶ Let [Nebuchadnezzar’s] heart be changed from that of a man,

Let him be given the heart of a beast,

And let seven times pass over him.

¹⁷ ‘This decision is by the decree of the watchers,

And the sentence by the word of the holy ones,

In order that the living may know

That the Most High rules in the kingdom of men,

Gives it to whomever He will,

And sets over it the lowest of men.’

¹⁸ “This dream I, King Nebuchadnezzar, have seen. Now you, Belteshazzar, declare its interpretation, since all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known to me the interpretation; but you are able, for the Spirit of the Holy God is in you.”

Daniel 4:23 (NKJV)

²³ “And inasmuch as the king saw a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying, ‘Chop down the tree and destroy it, but leave its stump and roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze in the tender grass of the field; let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let him graze with the beasts of the field, till seven times pass over him’;

A Watcher is a type of biblical angel. The word occurs in both plural and singular forms in the Book of Daniel (2nd century BC), where reference is made to the holiness of the beings. Watchers are spiritual beings, both divine and demonic, that annotate, monitor, and scribe the dealings of man. They are spiritual intelligence/spies, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR). They’re either stationary and/or dynamic. Watchers are active both in the day and night; but they’re most active at night because the “day” belongs to men.

Because the physical is a consequence of the spiritual realm; watchers also exist on earth.

Outside of the spiritual realm, in the physical realm, the man* who is called to watch is called a watchman.

ANSWER #1: According to scripture, a Watcher is a class of angels, both divine and demonic, which are charged with scribing* all the affairs of men (think stenographer). Watchers are assigned to people and territories, they’re either stationary or dynamic, and most importantly, they’re to assess and record the affairs of men but NOT interfere with the affairs of men (whereas demonic watchers record and interfere** with the affairs of men).

QUESTION #2: What is a watchman? What are the responsibilities of a watchman?

Genesis 2:15 (NLT):

¹⁵ The Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it.

2 Samuel 15:30–37 (NKJV)

³⁰ So David went up by the Ascent of the Mount of Olives, and wept as he went up; and he had his head covered and went barefoot. And all the people who were with him covered their heads and went up, weeping as they went up. ³¹ Then someone told David, saying, “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” And David said, “O Lord, I pray, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness!”

³² Now it happened when David had come to the top of the mountain, where he worshiped God—there was Hushai the Archite coming to meet him with his robe torn and dust on his head. ³³ David said to him, “If you go on with me, then you will become a burden to me. ³⁴ But if you return to the city, and say to Absalom, ‘I will be your servant, O king; as I was your father’s servant previously, so I will now also be your servant,’ then you may defeat the counsel of Ahithophel for me. ³⁵ And do you not have Zadok and Abiathar the priests with you there? Therefore it will be that whatever you hear from the king’s house, you shall tell to Zadok and Abiathar the priests. ³⁶ Indeed they have there with them their two sons, Ahimaaz, Zadok’s son, and Jonathan, Abiathar’s son; and by them you shall send me everything you hear.”

³⁷ So Hushai, David’s friend, went into the city. And Absalom came into Jerusalem.

Hushai was a friend of David and a spy. During Absalom’s rebellion, as described in the 2 Samuel, Hushai agrees to act as an false advisor to Absalom, David’s rebellious son, to sabotage Absalom’s plans while secretly sending intelligence to David.

2 Samuel 18:24–29 (NKJV)

²⁴ Now David was sitting between the two gates. And the watchman went up to the roof over the gate, to the wall, lifted his eyes and looked, and there was a man, running alone. ²⁵ Then the watchman cried out and told the king. And the king said, “If he is alone, there is news in his mouth.” And he came rapidly and drew near.

²⁶ Then the watchman saw another man running, and the watchman called to the gatekeeper and said, “There is another man, running alone!”

And the king said, “He also brings news.”

²⁷ So the watchman said, “I think the running of the first is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok.”

And the king said, “He is a good man, and comes with good news.”

²⁸ So Ahimaaz called out and said to the king, “All is well!” Then he bowed down with his face to the earth before the king, and said, “Blessed be the Lord your God, who has delivered up the men who raised their hand against my lord the king!”

²⁹ The king said, “Is the young man Absalom safe?”

Ahimaaz answered, “When Joab sent the king’s servant and me your servant, I saw a great tumult, but I did not know what it was about.”

DISCUSSION: What’s were difference between the responsibilities of the spy and the watchmen to King David?

There are two types of watchmen, militant and spiritual. In my past, at the unclassified level, I was an Intelligence Officer*; amongst other things. Part of my duties as an ISR professional*, was to provide my airmen with indicators & warnings (I&W) of the enemy. If the enemy does ANYTHING that’s of interest to my commander and airmen, it’s a key requirement of intelligence to provide I&W… if I&W aren’t presented, to allow commanders and policies makers sufficient time to battle plan against the enemy; it’s the ISR professional’s fault; and in most cases good men and women die*.

In the spiritual context, there were many watchmen identified by GOD; with the two most prominent being the prophets Hosea and Ezekiel. The Bible is filled with many servants of GOD; some of these servants were known as prophets. Adam’s responsibility, assigned by GOD, in the Garden of Eden was that of a watchman!

In the Hebrew canon the Prophets are divided into (1) the Former Prophets (Joshua, Judges, Samuel, and Kings) and (2) the Latter or Major Prophets (Isaiah, Jeremiah*, Ezekiel, Daniel and the Twelve, or Minor, Prophets: Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi).

Amos 3:7-8 (NKJV)

⁷ Surely the Lord God does nothing,

Unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.

⁸ A lion has roared!

Who will not fear?

The Lord God has spoken!

Who can but prophesy?

This “prophets” mentioned in Amos** are not those by ordination but rather saints in GOD that have chosen to prioritize their devotion beyond that of a believer. In the Kingdom of GOD, there’s a difference between a sinner and a forgiven sinner. And there’s a difference between a believer and a consecrated believer.

Numbers 11:29 (NKJV)
²⁹ Then Moses said to him, “Are you zealous for my sake? Oh, that all the Lord’s people were prophets and that the Lord would put His Spirit upon them!”

Consecrated believers are prophets of GOD. These prophets, after a season of consistent obedience, can become commissioned as a prophet of GOD, and by GOD to a specific area of responsibility/sect of people. This commissioning is a covenant*, under the premise that YOU WILL continue to attend to your altar and offer spiritual sacrifices**.

Psalm 50:5 (NKJV)

⁵ “Gather My saints together to Me,

Those who have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice.”

Mark 14:37–38 (NKJV)

³⁷ Then He came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “Simon, are you sleeping? Could you not watch one hour? ³⁸ Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Jeremiah 6:17 (NKJV)

¹⁷ Also, I set watchmen over you, saying,

‘Listen to the sound of the trumpet!’

But they said, ‘We will not listen.’

Watchman = Gatekeeper = Man who stands in the gap (think Abraham & Ezekiel)

//BREAK BREAK//

 

Jeremiah 1:4–8 (NKJV)

The Prophet is Called

⁴ Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying:

⁵ “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you;

Before you were born I sanctified you;

I ordained you a prophet to the nations.”

⁶ Then said I:

“Ah, Lord God!

Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth.”

⁷ But the Lord said to me:

“Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’

For you shall go to all to whom I send you,

And whatever I command you, you shall speak.

⁸ Do not be afraid of their faces,

For I am with you to deliver you,” says the Lord.

Ezekiel 22:30 (NKJV)

³⁰ So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one.

Isaiah 6:8–9 (ESV)

Isaiah’s Commission from the Lord

⁸ And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.”

⁹ And he said, “Go, and say to this people:

                        “ ‘Keep on hearing, but do not understand;

                        keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’

Daniel 5:24–31 (NKJV)

²⁴ Then the fingers of the hand were sent from Him, and this writing was written.

²⁵ “And this is the inscription that was written:

MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN

²⁶ This is the interpretation of each word. Mene: God has numbered your kingdom, and finished it; ²⁷ Tekel: You have been weighed in the balances, and found wanting; ²⁸ Peres: Your kingdom has been divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.” ²⁹ Then Belshazzar gave the command, and they clothed Daniel with purple and put a chain of gold around his neck, and made a proclamation concerning him that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom.

Belshazzar’s Fall

³⁰ That very night Belshazzar, king of the Chaldeans, was slain. ³¹ And Darius the Mede received the kingdom, being about sixty-two years old.

Esther 2:19–23 (NKJV)

Mordecai Discovers a Plot

¹⁹ When virgins were gathered together a second time, Mordecai sat within the king’s gate. ²⁰ Now Esther had not revealed her family and her people, just as Mordecai had charged her, for Esther obeyed the command of Mordecai as when she was brought up by him.

²¹ In those days, while Mordecai sat within the king’s gate, two of the king’s eunuchs, Bigthan and Teresh, doorkeepers, became furious and sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus. ²² So the matter became known to Mordecai, who told Queen Esther, and Esther informed the king in Mordecai’s name. ²³ And when an inquiry was made into the matter, it was confirmed, and both were hanged on a gallows; and it was written in the book of the chronicles in the presence of the king.

 

Esther’s (Persian: ستاره, stāra ) hebrew name, Hadassah (Hebrew: הֲדַסָּה) means “myrtle,” a symbol of peace or “bride”. The root Hebrew scripts, “unpointed Hebrew” of the name (Hebrew: אסתר, ‘str), means “to hide” or “secret” — a theme in both the plot line and portrayal of God’s presence in the book of Esther. Mordecai, in his wisdom, renamed Hadassah, his cousin, the Persian name Esther meaning “star” to conceal her true identity; her Jewish roots*, and relations to Mordecai without drawing suspicions. 

Myrtle Flower

                                                                       

2 Kings 6:8–14 (NKJV)

The Blinded Syrians Captured

⁸ Now the king of Syria was making war against Israel; and he consulted with his servants, saying, “My camp will be in such and such a place.” ⁹ And the man of God sent to the king of Israel, saying, “Beware that you do not pass this place, for the Syrians are coming down there.” ¹⁰ Then the king of Israel sent someone to the place of which the man of God had told him. Thus he warned him, and he was watchful there, not just once or twice.

¹¹ Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was greatly troubled by this thing; and he called his servants and said to them, “Will you not show me which of us is for the king of Israel?”

¹² And one of his servants said, “None, my lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom.”

¹³ So he said, “Go and see where he is, that I may send and get him.”

And it was told him, saying, “Surely he is in Dothan.”

¹⁴ Therefore he sent horses and chariots and a great army there, and they came by night and surrounded the city.

 

My job was to Find, Fix, Finish, Exploit, Analyze, & Disseminate (F3EAD). Nobody is wiser than the hunter; especially the hunter of men!

Jeremiah 9:23–24 (ESV):

²³ Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, ²⁴ but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.”

1 Peter 5:8–9 (NKJV)

⁸ Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. ⁹ Resist him**, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.

Proverbs 6:4–5 (NKJV)

⁴ Give no sleep to your eyes,

Nor slumber to your eyelids.

⁵ Deliver yourself like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter,

And like a bird from the hand of the fowler.

Proverbs 1:17 (NKJV)

¹⁷ Surely, in vain the net is spread

In the sight of any bird;

ANSWER #2: According to scripture, Watchmen are men and women of GOD, first committed disciples* who are then commissioned prophet(ess)** that are eventually promoted to watchmen who are commanded to primarily announce the sound of the trumpet in three instances. Watchmen operate by day and night* and are to (1) proclaim the word of GOD, (2) to speak the word of Angels, (3) and to warn against the plans of the devil. Watchmen proclaim the word of GOD in season and out of season, to communicate the announcements of Angels and to indicate and warn against the intentions of Satan. These announcements are intended for either the body of Christ, an assigned populations or to saints and gentiles alike; otherwise, the judgement of GOD will be on the head of the watchman. Watchmen MUST stay awake at night and keep their watch, coupled with fasting and praying AT LEAST one hour at night BEFORE sunrise*. Watchmen are spiritual spies for the Kingdom of GOD; they are GOD’s only hope as intercessors between HIS judgement against men and the land. This is an office that is grossly DEFICIENT in the Kingdom of GOD because many watchmen are untrained, ill-prepared and asleep.

Matthew 13:24–25 (NKJV)

Parable of the Wheat and Tares

²⁴ Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; ²⁵ but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way.

Demonic Watchmen: CLICK HERE

Tonight, we will focus on Ezekiel (Hebrew: יחזקאל, meaning “God strengthen”). Judaean priest and prophet taken into exile by the Babylonians in 597 bc. Son of a Zadokite priest named Buzi.

Ezekiel 1:3 (NKJV)

³ the word of the Lord came expressly to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the River Chebar; and the hand of the Lord was upon him there.

//BREAK BREAK//

Translation vs. Transliteration: Hebrew vs. English

Eloi = “GOD”; Elohim = “GOD”; Bethel = “House of GOD”; Raphael = “GOD has healed”

Daniel = “God is my judge”; Mishael = “who is like God?!”; Michael = “GOD’s strength”
Elijah = “YAHWEH* (To Be) is my God”; Ehyeh** is first person
Elisha = “God is my salvation” El Shaddai = “GOD Almighty”

…Elder* = “shepherd of GOD”

Yahweh = “To Be”; sometimes written as YHWH
Azariah = “Helped by GOD”; Hananiah = “Grace, mercy, gift of the LORD”

Azariah and Hananiah carry the suffix -iah* or -yah** which is short for Yahweh the covenant name of GOD

Isaiah 26:4 (NKJV)

⁴ Trust in the LORD forever,

For in YAH, the LORD, is everlasting strength.

Ezekiel (Hebrew: יחזקאל, meaning “God strengthen”) ministry characterized by ecstatic visions, dramatic behavior, graphic depictions of Israel’s sin, and a message of divine judgment and restoration.

QUESTION #3: Who was Ezekiel to GOD? What people was Ezekiel assigned?

Ezekiel 2:1–5 (ESV)

Ezekiel’s Call

2 And he said to me, “Son of man, stand on your feet, and I will speak with you.” ² And as he spoke to me, the Spirit entered into me and set me on my feet, and I heard him speaking to me. ³ And he said to me, “Son of man, I send you to the people of Israel, to nations of rebels, who have rebelled against me. They and their fathers have transgressed against me to this very day. ⁴ The descendants also are impudent and stubborn: I send you to them, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God.’ ⁵ And whether they hear or refuse to hear (for they are a rebellious house) they will know that a prophet has been among them.

DISCUSSION: What’s a prophet** of GOD?

I had my first LIVE encounter with a fake prophet of GOD, 9JUNE*

Being a prophet of GOD is an office in the Kingdom of Heaven & Church of GOD (Eph. 4:11-12)

 

A prophet of GOD to the churches MUST:

Matthew 24:24-25 (NKJV):

24 For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you beforehand.

1. Disciplined– has a time for EVERYTHING,most importantly prayer… This is #1 area where most people that GOD wants to use fail, where those who call “themselves” prophet are delinquent, and this is something every person(s) can control. They are NOT sexual immoral*, compromised** or promiscuous***. They fully embody these three attributes:

1. Righteously Strict to themselves (1 Tim. 5:19-20; 1 Thess. 5:22)
2. Mercifully Kind towards others (Matthew 25:35-45)
3. Secretly Pure towards GOD (Matthew 6)

 

2. Prayer– All prophets and prophetess are ADDICTED to prayer, supplication and intercession, because prayer is “uploading” to GOD while prophesying is “downloading” from GOD; with the Holy Spirit being the router. They all offering spiritual sacrifices on their altars*. They pray without ceasing*; prayer is not what they do, prayer is WHO they are. They are possessed by the spirit of prayer, and is spirit driven/powered (Luke 11:1; Luke 18:1; 1 Thess. 5:17; Psalm 80:18)

 

3. Your Identity in GOD– Jehovah will tell you who you are according to HIS will. Every prophet must first be chosen by GOD (Mark 3:14) and need to find themselves IN SCRIPTURE first (Luke 4:16-20*; Isaiah 61)!*WARNING* If your manifestation, supersedes your revelation of GOD*, you’re practicing divination! (Isaiah 49:1; Jeremiah 1:5; Luke 4:17)

 

4. Revelation of GOD– Jesus will show Himself to you and require that you spend time with HIM above all else (Galatians 1:11–20). If you’ve had a spiritual encounter with Jesus where HE has chosen you to serve HIM, your responsibility to GOD is to learn who HE is and it will be done by HIS spirit teaching you* not man**. This is the #2 area where people that GOD wants to use fail. They seek the knowledge of GOD by men, not by HIS spirit for themselves (Exodus 33:11; Acts 9:3-4; 1 Corin. 2:11).

 

5. HIS Word & Assigned People– Only after the first 4-steps are met and kept, will GOD give you HIS word to speak on HIS behalf — a word that only the spirit of GOD can give you — and then there’s a “people” HE will assign you to speak HIS word. It’s bespoke, not generalized (Jeremiah 1:9-10; Isaiah 6:6-11).

NOTICE: I did not mention the gift of prophesying and calling things that are not as thou they were because there more to being a prophet than prophesying. Consider the prophet Hosea (Hosea 1 & 2) and Anna (Luke 2:36-37) the prophetess; where their LIFE was a sign of the things that were to come. Only those that have “eyes to see” will understand what GOD is saying through these prophet’s life… not merely talking, but operating in an office where GOD dictates every facet of your life to actualize HIS agenda.

CONSIDER: Can GOD tell you to quit your job, sell your home, disenroll from school, give money to people you don’t even know WITHOUT explanation; saying HE is your GOD and you are His prophet(ess) and you’ll obey, or not?

This is why it’s CRITICAL that you’re intimate with GOD, that you know* HIM for yourself, not your pastor, deacon, minister can know* HIM for you the way you’re supposed to because HE will ask of you strange things, and will wait and see if HE is your GOD or anything else is your GOD; including your pastor, parents, or spouse (John 10:27-28).

Ezekiel 3:16–21 (NKJV)

Ezekiel is a Watchman

¹⁶ Now it came to pass at the end of seven days that the word of the Lord came to me, saying, ¹⁷ “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore hear a word from My mouth, and give them warning from Me: ¹⁸ When I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life, that same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand. ¹⁹ Yet, if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul.

²⁰ “Again, when a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and I lay a stumbling block before him, he shall die; because you did not give him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he has done shall not be remembered; but his blood I will require at your hand. ²¹ Nevertheless if you warn the righteous man that the righteous should not sin, and he does not sin, he shall surely live because he took warning; also you will have delivered your soul.”

Ezekiel 33:1–11 (NKJV)

The Watchman and His Message

33 Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying, ² “Son of man, speak to the children of your people, and say to them: ‘When I bring the sword upon a land, and the people of the land take a man from their territory and make him their watchman, ³ when [the watchman] sees the sword coming upon the land, if he blows the trumpet and warns the people, ⁴ then whoever hears the sound of the trumpet and does not take warning, if the sword comes and takes him away, [the rebellious’] blood shall be on his own head. ⁵ [The rebellious] heard the sound of the trumpet, but did not take warning; his blood shall be upon himself. But he who takes warning will save his life. ⁶ But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, and the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any person from among them, [the rebellious] is taken away in his iniquity; but [the rebellious’] blood I will require at the watchman’s hand.’

⁷ “So you, son of man: I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore you shall hear a word from My mouth and warn them for Me. ⁸ When I say to the wicked, ‘O wicked man, you shall surely die!’ and you do not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand. ⁹ Nevertheless if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul.

¹⁰ “Therefore you, O son of man, say to the house of Israel: ‘Thus you say, “If our transgressions and our sins lie upon us, and we pine away in them, how can we then live?” ’ ¹¹ Say to them: ‘As I live,’ says the Lord God, ‘I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?’

 

There are 5 commissioned offices within the church (Ephesians 4:11), and many more in the Kingdom of GOD. The office of “prophet” is a position that is constructed/created by Jesus. However, every prophet by ordination, not merely gifting and manifestation of the Holy Spirit, is commissioned by GOD the Father. Jesus owns the office; however, the appointment and area of responsibility is governed by Yahweh.

1 Corinthians 12:4–6 (NKJV)

⁴ There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. ⁵ There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. ⁶ And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all.

There’s a division of labor in the Elohim (Hebrew: אֱלֹהִים, meaning “godhood; gods”) and Adonai (Hebrew: אֲדֹנָי, meaning “the LORD; master) is responsible for managing the responsibilities within appointments into an office, which JESUS assigns His servants; think anatomy and physiology (form and function).

Ezekiel 2:1–5 (NKJV)

2 And He said to me, “Son of man, stand on your feet, and I will speak to you.” ² Then the Spirit entered me when He spoke to me, and set me on my feet; and I heard Him who spoke to me. ³ And He said to me: “Son of man, I am sending you to the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against Me; they and their fathers have transgressed against Me to this very day. ⁴ For they are impudent and stubborn children. I am sending you to them, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God.’ ⁵ As for them, whether they hear or whether they refuse—for they are a rebellious house—yet they will know that a prophet has been among them.

Ezekiel 14:12–23 (NKJV)

Judgment on Persistent Unfaithfulness

¹² The word of the Lord came again to me, saying: ¹³ “Son of man, when a land sins against Me by persistent unfaithfulness, I will stretch out My hand against it; I will cut off its supply of bread, send famine on it, and cut off man and beast from it. ¹⁴ Even if these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they would deliver only themselves by their righteousness,” says the Lord God.

¹⁵ “If I cause wild beasts to pass through the land, and they empty it, and make it so desolate that no man may pass through because of the beasts, ¹⁶ even though these three men were in it, as I live,” says the Lord God, “they would deliver neither sons nor daughters; only they would be delivered, and the land would be desolate.

¹⁷ “Or if I bring a sword on that land, and say, ‘Sword, go through the land,’ and I cut off man and beast from it, ¹⁸ even though these three men were in it, as I live,” says the Lord God, “they would deliver neither sons nor daughters, but only they themselves would be delivered.

¹⁹ “Or if I send a pestilence into that land and pour out My fury on it in blood, and cut off from it man and beast, ²⁰ even though Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it, as I live,” says the Lord God, “they would deliver neither son nor daughter; they would deliver only themselves by their righteousness.”

²¹ For thus says the Lord God: “How much more it shall be when I send My four severe judgments on Jerusalem—the sword and famine and wild beasts and pestilence—to cut off man and beast from it? ²² Yet behold, there shall be left in it a remnant who will be brought out, both sons and daughters; surely they will come out to you, and you will see their ways and their doings. Then you will be comforted concerning the disaster that I have brought upon Jerusalem, all that I have brought upon it. ²³ And they will comfort you, when you see their ways and their doings; and you shall know that I have done nothing without cause that I have done in it,” says the Lord God. 

CONSIDER: What do call a home, family, region/territory, government and nation that’s without a watchman?

ANSWER #3: According to scripture, Ezekiel was a priest, prophet and a watchman (Kingdom spy). Ezekiel was commanded by GOD to announce GOD’s judgement to the house of Israel.

QUESTION #4: How to become a watchman?

The rhythm of the Divine Hours typically flows on a tri-hourly pattern, marked at 12:00 a.m., 3:00 a.m., 6:00 a.m., 9:00 a.m., 12-noon, 3:00 p.m., and 6:00 p.m…, bracketed by morning and evening prayers. Simpler variations focus on a morning prayer, a mid-day prayer, and an evening prayer. This sacred ritual, known as the Divine Hours, or fixed-hour prayer, predates the formalization of Christianity, tracing its roots back to the daily prayer cycle of Judaism.

However the practice started, it eventually made its way into Jewish religious law. The rabbis taught Jews to pray three hours (times) per day, citing the examples of David (Psalm 55:17) and Daniel (Daniel 6:10). Eventually, fixed times were set for the observance of these prayers (1) the 3rd hour* (roughly 9am), the 6th hour* (roughly 12pm), and the 9th hour* (roughly 3pm). The morning and evening prayers may have coincided with the morning and evening sacrifices offered by the priests in the Temple (Ex 29:38-39; Num 28:2-8).

Whereas there are “hours” during the day, there are “watches” during the night. There are four watches (times) per night; the 1st watch* (6pm), the 2nd watch* (9pm), the 3rd watch* (12-midnight) and the 4th watch* (3am). Jesus spent the majority of His spiritual “exercises” with night watches.

Psalm 55:17 (NKJV)

¹⁷ Evening and morning and at noon

I will pray, and cry aloud,

 4-Hours (Daylight) 4-Watches (Moonlight)

And He shall hear my voice.

Daniel 6:10 (NKJV)

Daniel in the Lions’ Den

¹⁰ Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.

Acts 3:1 (NKJV)

A Lame Man Healed

3 Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.

Acts 10:3 (NKJV)

³ About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God coming in and saying to him, “Cornelius!”

Acts 10:30–31 (NKJV)

³⁰ So Cornelius said, “Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing, ³¹ and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your alms are remembered in the sight of God.

The Old Testament saints, the New Testament Church, and Jesus Christ all observed these prayer times. Interestingly, key events of Jesus’ crucifixion aligned with these designated times. Jesus was crucified the 3rd hour (Mark 15:25), darkness covered the land at the 6th hour (Mark 15:33), and Jesus died at the 9th hour (Mark 15:34-37).

Matthew 13:24–25 (NKJV)

Parable of the Wheat and Tares

²⁴ Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; ²⁵ but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way.

Matthew 24:42–44 (NKJV)

⁴² Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. ⁴³ But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. ⁴⁴ Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

Mark 6:48–49 (NKJV)

⁴⁸ Then He saw them straining at rowing, for the wind was against them. Now about the fourth watch [roughly 3 a.m.] of the night He came to them, walking on the sea, and would have passed them by. ⁴⁹ And when they saw Him walking on the sea, they supposed it was a ghost, and cried out;

Luke 12:37–38 (NKJV)

³⁷ Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching. Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them. ³⁸ And if he should come in the second watch [9p.m.], or come in the third watch [12-midnight], and find them so, blessed are those servants.

Luke 2:25–38 (NKJV)

Simeon’s Prophecy

²⁵ And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. ²⁶ And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. ²⁷ So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law, ²⁸ he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said:

²⁹ “Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace,

According to Your word;

³⁰ For my eyes have seen Your salvation

³¹ Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples,

³² A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles,

And the glory of Your people Israel.”

³³ And Joseph and His mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him. ³⁴ Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against ³⁵ (yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

Anna’s Testimony

³⁶ Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity; ³⁷ and this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. ³⁸ And coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem.

Psalm 63:6 (NKJV)

⁶ When I remember You on my bed,

I meditate on You in the night watches.

Matthew 26:40–41 (NKJV)

⁴⁰ Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? ⁴¹ Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

ANSWER #4: According to scripture, in order to be a watchman, you MUST initially be a prophet(ess), either by GOD’s ordination or covenanted sacrifice; not by gifting/manifestation of the Holy Spirit. After you have faithfully prosecuted the responsibilities of the office of a prophet(ess), to speak the words of GOD to HIS people, and your words not falling to the ground, then you may become appointed as a watchman, a spiritual spy for GOD, with added duties of a covenanted lifestyle of three prayer-hours and night prayers** by also speaking the words of Angels and disclosing the tactics of Satan. But the tactics of Satan are not prophecies, but as a warning, to GOD’s people
(2 Kings 6:10).

REVIEW Desired Learning Objective:

1. What is a watcher?
2. Who is a watchman? What are the responsibilities of a watchman?
3. Who was Ezekiel to GOD? What people was Ezekiel assigned?
4. How to become a watchman?

QUESTIONS??

Matthew 11:2–3 (AMP)

² Now when John [the Baptist] in prison heard about the activities of Christ, he sent word by his disciples ³ and asked Him, “Are You the Expected One (the Messiah), or should we look for someone else [who will be the promised One]?”

HOMEWORK: select a Prayer Hour &