Be A Watcher

19 Nov, 2023 | Stanthorpe Baptist Church Bulletin

Coming Up:

  • MISSIONS LUNCHEON FUNDRAISER: 26th of November
  • CHRISTMAS CAROLS: 9th of December
  • Christmas Carol Helpers wanted: Every Saturday, we will be getting ready for our Christmas Carols here in the church. Between 1pm to 4pm until 9th December we will be here in the church doing preparations 

    • We need help to organise costumes, backdrops, and props, so if your handy with scissors or a paint brush please come along. 

    • We need helpers for a lot of other things like food preparation, set up and pack down and packing give away bags. 

    • We need people to letterbox drop flyers on the event. 

    • We need singers for the choir. 

    • We need sound and lighting helpers. 

    • We are also looking for Children to perform in the Christmas Carol Play, so if you have children or know of children who would be interested, please let Margie know. 

BE A WATCHER:

Devotion 21
Praying for Revival

In us, in our church family, in our district, in our nation.

One Prayer 2023. QB Devotions 

This is the last day of our 21 days of prayer for revival. But I hope it is not the last time you pray for revival. We are at the beginning of a new passion and prayer for God’s reviving work. God is not finished with us yet. The spiritual wave might appear to have withdrawn, but there is a new wave coming. This last study focuses on those God is asking to watch and pray for a new move of his Spirit that will bring great spiritual blessing and transformation. It is a call to be on the forefront of the preparation for revival – a watcher.

SCRIPTURE: ISAIAH 62:6-12 

I have posted watchmen on your walls, 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.

The Lord has sworn by his right hand and by his mighty arm:

“Never again will I give your grain as food for your enemies, and never again will foreigners drink the new wine for which you have toiled; but those who harvest it will eat it and praise the Lord, and those who gather the grapes will drink it in the courts of my sanctuary.”

Pass through, pass through the gates! Prepare the way for the people. Build up, build up the highway! Remove the stones. Raise a banner for the nations.

The Lord has made proclamation to the ends of the earth: “Say to Daughter Zion, ‘See, your Saviour comes! See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him.’” They will be called the Holy People, the Redeemed of the Lord; and you will be called Sought After, the City No Longer Deserted.

DEVOTION 

In Isaiah’s time, watchmen would be posted on the walls of cities. Their main task was to watch for invaders and to warn the citizens. But sometimes they would be watching for something wonderful like a returning army or an arriving ally. Isaiah figuratively applies this role to those who watch and prepare for the coming Saviour who is going to bless the nation. God has given people this watching role and they need to be continually calling on God. There is to be no rest for the watchers as they prepare for this wonderful event.

As we saw in Isaiah 40, this triumphant arrival of a Saviour for God’s people refers to their return from exile, and also to the arrival of the Messiah and also to the return of Christ. But it covers other powerful saving works of Jesus as well. As we move towards God’s reviving work, God raises up watchers. Their role is to believe in God’s future, pray continually for it, get things ready for what God is going to do, and keep reminding everyone that there is a powerful work of God to come.

I do not like surprises. I have told my family that I never want a surprise party. I like to plan for everything. Don’t ask me to do something on the spur of the moment. I will not enjoy it. You see a lot of my joy comes from anticipating and planning the future. For example, I love preparing for major holidays. Getting ready and anticipating what is coming is almost as much fun as the holiday itself. In this sense I am a “watcher.” I get ready for the excitement ahead. I remind everyone of what is coming. I anticipate the future.

God has called many of us to be watchers for revival. He has posted us on the walls and told us to keep pleading with God until he works in revival power. He has summoned us to prepare the way for his awakening by humbling ourselves, praying, seeking God’s face, and turning from our wicked ways. He has encouraged us to dream of what will be and to get others excited about God’s future blessing. We are the watchers.

And what is our message? “See, your Saviour comes! See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him.’” We will be called the Holy People, the Redeemed of the Lord; and we will be called Sought After, the City No Longer Deserted” (62:11-12). Come close Lord Jesus in your mighty power. Bless us like never before.

PRAYER RESPONSE 

Lord if you are calling me, I will be a watcher. I would love to help prepare for revival. I know that you are gracious and powerful and that you want so much more for your people. Help me to believe and pray incessantly. Open the heavens and pour out your revival blessing on me Lord.

PRAYER FOR REVIVAL 

Lord I have read and thought and prayed so much about revival over the past 21 days. I long to be part of it. Please, please may you forgive your half-hearted people, renew our dependence on you, and pour out your power in us and through us so that our community experiences your love and grace and is transformed. Please revive us Lord.