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SOUNDING
OUT:
Watch and Be Ready
As laborers together with
God, we expect Him to direct our steps as He promised
He would. We do our best to keep His Word and live the
way He would want. When we need further information
on specific points to bring His Word and will to pass
He will give it to us. It is important to stay in fellowship
with the heavenly Father and enjoy the pleasure of His
company. We never know when He might want to tell us
something, so we always remain diligent to watch and
be ready.
Revelation may come at the most likely and unlikely
times and places. Of course “likely and unlikely”
are relevant terms. What’s likely to me may be
unlikely to you, and what’s unlikely to me may
be likely to you. I guess if I’ve received revelation
in one situation before, when that situation comes up
again, I may be more likely to expect it than some one
who hasn’t. The point is—we want to stay
ready because we never know when it may come.
There are plenty of examples in the Word of what
I would call likely times and places:
- When writing God’s Word, [Luke
was directed by God]—Luke 1:1-4.
- While serving in the temple, [Zacharius
received revelation about John]—Luke 1:5-21.
- While waiting for the outpouring
of the spirit on Pentecost, [the twelve received the
cue to speak]—Acts 2:1-3.
- At the transfiguration, [Peter, James,
and John were instructed by God]—Matthew 17:1-9.
- On a mission for God, [Paul received
additional information]—Acts 18:18-21.
- When ministering healing, [God told
Jesus what to say and do]—John 9:6,7.
There are plenty of examples
in the Word of what I would call unlikely times and places:
- While going abroad, [Samuel anointed
Saul to be king]—I Samuel 9:26,27.
- While keeping sheep, [Moses hears
from God via a burning bush]—Exodus 3:1,2.
- While dying on the cross, [Jesus
still heard from God]—Luke 23:39-43.
- While walking on the water, [Jesus
received further direction]—Matthew 14:22-33;
Mark 6:45-51.
As we carry out our responsibilities,
both personally and ministerially, we want God’s
assistance. We expect that He will work with us both
to will and to do of His good pleasure. We desire to
walk by the spirit, and we expect that God will work
in us. Therefore, we stay alert, watchful, and diligent.
Watching as many aspects:
-
To look or observe
attentively or carefully; be closely observant:
as in watching for trail markers. As you
learn how God works with you there may be specific
things that occur over and over that you recognize
as God working in you.
- To look and wait expectantly or in
anticipation: as in watch for an opportunity.
Galatians 6:10 doesn’t say, “If we have
opportunity.” It says, “As we have opportunity.”
There will be opportunities, and we should eagerly anticipate
them.
- To act as a spectator; look on: as
in we watched the game on the big screen. Even
when you are not directly involved, your observation
of others walking by the spirit can bless and inspire
you big time.
- To stay alert and awake at night
while serving as a guard, sentinel, or watcher. This
would fit with the Old Testament concept of the watchman.
Ezekiel 33:1-7:
Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
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:
If when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow
the trumpet, and warn the people;
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.
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.
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.
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.
Paul extended this concept into the
New Testament when he said:
Acts 20:25-28:
And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have
gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face
no more.
Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure
from the blood of all men. [Then
he tells them why.]
For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel
of God.
Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the
flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers,
to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with
his own blood.
We stay vigilant. As parents
and fellowship coordinators we may spend more hours
then we would like in vigilant prayer. However, the
time is well spent and effectual.
Just as watching has different aspects, so does being
ready:
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Prepared or available
for service, action, or progress: David’s men
said unto him, “Thy servants are ready to do
whatsoever my lord the king shall appoint.”
(2 Samuel 15:15).
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Mentally disposed;
willing: The Bereans “received the Word with
all readiness of mind” (Acts 17:11). Nehemiah
said, “Thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious
and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness…”
(Nehemiah 9:17).
-
Likely or about to
do something: “Be ready always to give an answer
to every one that asketh…” The centurion’s
servant was sick, and ready to die. (Luke 7:2).
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Prompt in apprehending
or reacting: a ready intelligence; a ready response.
Ezra was a ready scribe (Ezra 7:6). The Psalmist said,
“My tongue is the pen of a ready writer.”
Because we
do not have foreknowledge, we want to watch and be ready.
God does want to guide and direct us. He does so with
His Word, and with revelation when we need more specific
information. What would you do if you knew God would speak
to you? If you are born again of His spirit you can be
sure He will. Therefore…
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