I
have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their
peace day or night: ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence. And
give Him no rest.
—Isaiah 62:6-7
Watchmen were ordinarily placed on the walls
of a city to give notice to the rulers of coming danger. Similarly, God
appoints watchmen not only to warn men—often they will not hear—but also to
summon Him to come to their aid whenever need or enemies may be threatening.
The great mark of intercessors is that they are not to hold their peace day or
night; they are to take no rest, and to give God no rest, until the deliverance
comes. In faith they may be assured that God will answer their prayers.
It is concerning this that our Lord Jesus
said, “shall not God avenge His own elect, which cry day and night unto
Him?” (Luke 18:7). From every land the voice is heard that the church of
Christ, under the influence of the power of the world, is losing its influence
over its members. There is little proof of God’s presence in the conversion of
sinners or in the holiness of His people. With the great majority of
Christians, there is an utter neglect of Christ’s call to take part in the
spreading of His gospel. The power of the Holy Spirit is experienced very
little.
Amid all the discussions as to what can be
done to interest young and old in the study of God’s Word, one seldom hears of
the indispensable necessity of the power of the Holy Spirit in the membership
of the church. Few people are truly convinced that it is owing to the lack of
prayer that the workings of the Spirit are so feeble, and many people fail to
see that only through fervent prayer can change be brought about. If ever there
was a time when God’s elect should cry out to Him, it is now. Will you not
offer yourself to God for this blessed work of intercession and learn to
consider it the highest privilege of your life to be a channel through whose
prayers God’s blessings can be brought down to earth?
Ever blessed Father, hear us, we pray, and
raise up the intercessors that You require. Give us men and women to act as
Your watchmen, taking no rest and giving You no rest, until Your church again
is praised in the earth. Blessed Father, let Your Spirit teach us how to pray.
Amen.
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