They Watch for Your Soul

In Part I of this series on the accountability of the watchman, we established that the watchman is the one who is given the responsibility of seeing those things that will liberate or oppose the body of Christ. He is also able to see into the spirit world and discern the opposition of the devil to the will of God in the lives of the saints.

Hebrews 13:17

17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.

In the above scripture, the Lord admonishes us that the watchmen have the rule over the church, which will be governed through the men and women who have been called by God into His government.

The word “rule” in this scripture is referring to the spiritual authority that the leader (watchman) has in the lives of the saints and the oversight of their growth and maturity. He will always lead by example, but the saints must be able to see the character of Christ being demonstrated in the life of that leader. In other words his responses inside of circumstances, situations and relationships should line up with the heart, mind and purpose of God.

OBEDIENCE

The very first word to the church from God is to obey. Obedience to the truth and to leadership is our responsibility.

Galatians 5:7-8

7 Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?

8 This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you.

The Galatians had been lead away from obeying the truth by means of persuasion. However, Paul pronounced judgment on them. We know that all truth is parallel. If they were persuaded in not obeying the truth, we have the right to persuade them to obey the truth. In this case obedience is not by submission to authority but results from persuasion, which is the influence of God’s Word in the heart that brings about a change of mind.

Acts 26:25-29

25 But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness.

26 For the king knoweth of these things, before whom also I speak freely: for I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him; for this thing was not done in a corner.

27 King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest.

28 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.

29 And Paul said, I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds.

Romans 4:20-25

20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;

21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.

22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.

23 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;

24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;

25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

Acts 18:9-13

9 Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace:

10 For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city.

11 And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.

12 And when Gallio was the deputy of Achaia, the Jews made insurrection with one accord against Paul, and brought him to the judgment seat,

13 Saying, This fellow persuadeth men to worship God contrary to the law.

Every watchman needs to be persuaded by God just as Abraham and should not stagger at the Word of the LORD but should be strong in the midst of his negative circumstances, situations and relationships. These are the trials God has allowed. In them He can persuade us of His power and give us a chance to know and experience Him. In other words, God lives through the events of our lives.

The testimony that Paul’s persecutors had of him was that he persuaded men to worship God contrary to tradition. God had persuaded Paul in the night by a vision. Every watchman needs to have a vision from God. Here, I refer to vision as a God-given plan for your ministry to the body. This vision will be given by personal visitation and will be confirmed by the Word of God so the leader and the people would be encouraged. The vision provides instruction and methodology. Because of it, the watchman is consoled in times of persecution, tests and trials.

Proverbs 29:18

18 Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.

The world has eyes but cannot see. They have sight but no vision. Sight is the function of the eye, but vision is a function of the heart. Without vision sight has no hope. Whatever you see with your natural eye may depress you and become a world that could destroy you, but if you have the vision of the heart it will allow you to see as God sees.

II Corinthians 5:7

7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)

Faith is what gives us vision. It is the plan and will of God for our soul. Vision takes you out of the natural and places you in the supernatural. Every watchman will need vision in this present time. This can only come by the Holy Ghost.

Act 2:14-18

14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:

15 For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.

16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;

17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:

18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:

SUBMISSION

Another responsibility of the Church is to submit. Everybody is not a leader or chosen for the five-fold ministry. We, who are called to follow, must do so inside of submitting to the men and women of God. We understand that submission is the attitude of the heart.

Ephesians 5:21

21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

Ephesians 6:5-9

5 Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;

6 Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;

7 With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:

8 Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.

9 And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him.

Mark 10:42-45

42 But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them.

43 But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister:

44 And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.

45 For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

It is our responsibility to each other to place God on display in our lives. We would not have a problem submitting to the God in each other with fear and trembling if we learned to respect Him. It is most important that saints understand how to discern the spiritual disposition of their leader. Follow me here for I am talking about the accountability of the saints. Your obedience should not be out of ignorance. What I mean is that to follow any leader in the blind without discerning the will of God in his counsel can lead to being tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine.

The attitude of the son of God should be to do all things as unto the Lord with a pure heart, commending every one that you listen to your conscience in order to judge whether it is of God. If there is a check in your spirit when you receive counsel, this should alert you as your conscience will either accuse or excuse the counsel that you receive. The Word and the purpose of God inside a situation are always your measuring stick.

For example, you may be inside of an abusive relationship and your leader instructs you to depart. How can you discern whether the counsel is of God? Purpose will always reveal God’s method of dealing to the individual and thereby employ God’s wisdom in bringing reconciliation.

A watchman must be a willing servant of the people of God, commending himself to every man’s conscience. His position in the lives of the people should not be according to the Levitical priesthood who were the only ones that had access to God on behalf of the people; but as a priest of Christ who has the responsibility of perfecting the saints in order that they too can come boldly before the throne of grace and make their petition known unto God.

It is the responsibility of the watchman to teach them to walk in the Spirit and never take it personally when their counsel is rejected, but to realize that there are some who plant, some who water, but it is God that gives the increase.

The hindrance to submission is pride. This is the work of the devil and he knows pride will cause God to resist or oppose you.

James 4:6-8

6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

Submitting to the God in each other gives us the power to resist the devil. This is the time and season to draw nigh unto God. This is not the season of indecision, doublemindedness, evil desire, prayerlessness, estrangement and worldliness.

II Chronicles 7:14

14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Seeking God seems to be something of the past for the Church. It has been exchanged for seeking the things of this world. But praise God for His faithfulness and love for the Church. There are some watchmen who are still concerned about the souls of the people.

People of God, your soul has been given to men and women of God to keep observe, preserve and reserve only for the Master’s glory. If you make a conscious decision right now to obey this lesson, you can move to another spiritual location and God will meet you right were you are.

In the Garden Adam’s conscience experienced death when he disobeyed God. Today our conscience comes alive when we obey Him. The joy of our leaders is when they can experience our spiritual maturity in obeying the Word of God. To walk in unbelief will cause them to be grieved. They know if we do not obey that our soul has to give an account for the evil deeds done in our body.

Every watchman who has been called by God loves the people of God and will lay down their life for them. Not being in submission will profit you nothing but the losing of your soul.

Hebrews 13:7

7 Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.

Love, Bishop