I think Jesus really said it best: “I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: THE NIGHT COMETH, when no man can work.” (John 9:4)

Paul adds: “Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: WE ARE NOT OF THE NIGHT, nor of darkness.” (1 Thessalonians 5:5)

And when “night” gets here … obviously the sun is already setting in America … we as the Church will need “watchmen” to keep guard. Our enemies lurk at night!

Thus we arrive at my Scripture this morning, a twice asked question in Isaiah 21:11 … “Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night?”

Somebody needs to start warning us … cautioning us … preparing us … for the encroaching night!

We Christians may literally live the truth of Philippians 1:29 some day … “For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, BUT ALSO TO SUFFER FOR HIS SAKE.”

We need some modern day Ezekiels, to whom God can charge .. “Son of man, I have made thee a WATCHMAN unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me.” (Ezekiel 3:17)

Yet it is also true … “If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?” … but still, someone needs to sound the alarm, to blow the trumpet! (Psalm 11:3)

When the “hard times” do come … when night settles in … we will probably pray more. Love each other more, study the Word more! Love the world (which is the culprit) far less. Be more humble.

About all you can do during the night is … ENDURE, stay faithful to the Lord, and remember … every night is followed by dawn!

God has promised … “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” (Psalm 30:5)

So I say … every true watchmen not only warns during the night … but also announces the rising of the sun!

And in that sense the hymnwriter had it correct … “Some golden daybreak, Jesus will come!”

I must close the Lesson with the words of Habakkuk the Prophet. Listen to his resolve … “Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: YET I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The LORD God is my strength.” (Habakkuk 3:17-19)

That’s faith … with night approaching!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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Surely none of us will deny the fact that we as Christians are at war with the world, with our very flesh and certainly with the devil himself!

“Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” Ephesians 6:11

Yet some sit idly by … while the war rages!

God’s attitude toward such “shirkers?”

“Curse ye Meroz, said the angel of the LORD, curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof; because they came not to the help of the LORD, to the help of the LORD against the mighty.” Lazy, inactive, non-committed citizens! (Judges 5:23)

The question of the day may be the one asked here … “And Moses said unto the children of Gad and to the children of Reuben, Shall your brethren go to war, and shall ye sit here?”

Surely you got the question, just posed by Numbers 32:6 … “Shall your brethren go to war, and shall ye sit here?”

Frankly, some of us need to re-enlist!

The old Hymn titled “Am I a Soldier of the Cross?” says it well …

“Must I be carried to the skies
  On flowery beds of ease,
While others fought to win the prize
  And sailed through bloody seas?”

Surely, our hearts say NO!

Do we not want to end our early life, as did the Apostle Paul? Truthfully saying “I have fought a good fight!”

Enough has been said.

The Holy Spirit is our Guide!

Jesus is our Commander!

God the Father is our Strategist!

Sounds like, undoubtedly …We are on the winning side!

Then, why not fight!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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Daniel 11:32 is our Text … “The people that do know their God shall be strong.”

The verb “know” used here can (and often does) imply “intimate association.”

And the verb “be strong” means “to prevail,” to be an overcomer!

And not much else can be added, the divinely inspired Sentence being that plain!

It’s an equation:the better I know God … the stronger He will make me!

Cause and effect … Knowing God produces Strength within!

Do you need more power as a Christian?

Well, now we know the Solution to that weakness!

Don’t we?

Knowing God … through His Word!

Knowing God … through His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord!

Knowing God … through His Holy Spirit!

Knowing God … through prayer!

Knowing God, though to a lesser degree … through His working in our daily lives! Circumstance, Providence! (Psalm 37:23 … “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD.”)

Little wonder Paul longs, craves, even states as his goal of life … “That I may know HIM.” Philippians 3:10

The the very next Phrase … “And the POWER of His Resurrection!”

Knowing God … and being strong!

This “hungry-to-know-God” Apostle named Paul also wrote to the Philippians … “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” Philippians 4:13

Do WE want to know HIM like that?

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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Notice especially today’s Verse. Do not skim over it. It is taken from one of those long “lists” of the Old Testament, but really contains a truth needed in our hearts and lives.

“And these are the singers. They were employed in that work day and night.” 1 Chronicles 9:33

Singing, day and night?

Thus was the Old Testament Tabernacle and Temple always (and appropriately) permeated with song!

Singing, setting the Psalms to music, teaching others to sing … all full time jobs! (According to 1 Chronicles 25:7 there were 288 of these singers! A pretty large choir when all gathered together!)

But did they, in that old dispensation of law, have all that much about which to sing?

Apparfently so!

Remember … “Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.” Romans 5:20

I can see God’s GRACE throughout the entire Bible, Genesis through Malachi as well as Matthew through Revelation!

And Grace sets one to singing!

In a quick perusal of the Psalms, I just found 33 instances of singing unto the Lord! (The first explicit song in Scripture is found in Exodus 15, where redeemed Israel comes up out of the dry bed of the Red Sea, having been delivered by the Power of God!)

Last night in the Revival Meeting, just prior to my preaching from Romans 5, the guest “singers” at Church particularly blessed my heart. They exalted our Lord Jesus Christ in a magnificent fashion! Hallelujah!

But … does this singing transfer in to our lives, as New Testament Christians?

I submit to you that wherever the Holy Spirit is, there is song! Songs of praise unto the dear Lord!

And come to think of it, the Holy Spirit indwells YOU … if you’re a born again Christian!

Singing in our hearts, souls?

Here’s the normal (healthy) Christian life, part of it anyway… “Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, SINGING and making melody in your heart to the Lord; giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 5:20-21

Are you among the “singers unto the Lord” today?

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

“Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Serve the LORD with gladness: COME BEFORE HIS PRESENCE WITH SINGING.” Quoting Psalm 100:1-2.

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Only an infinite God can promise His “eternality” … and as Christians our great God certainly qualifies!

Psalm 73:23 is a “new” verse to me. Yes, it has been in the Bible for centuries, but early this morning it came alive in my heart!

Here it is: “Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand.” Now I need to point out … this is the Psalmist Asaph praying to the Lord.

A commitment to live “continually” with God!

But also … every time Asaph sought God, or every time he needed God, or every day as he communed with God … God indeed was “there.” Apparently “continually” so!

This speaks volumes about God’s faithfulness, unchangeableness, even His unfathomable love.

Asaph calls out to God (as he does through the whole 73rd Psalm) … and God is “by his side!”

Hebrews 13:15 … “For He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” What a promise!

Matthew 28:20 … “And, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” Equally thrilling!

No doubt about the Lord’s tenacity, loyalty, power! (As in the last half of our verse … “Thou hast holden me in Thy Right Hand.”)

But look at our Text yet again, at Asaph’s faithfulness. Or at least by this point in the Psalm he is faithful. As I’ve said, He’s the one pledging … “Nevertheless I am continually with Thee.”

(So I can make a deduction. Seems that if I am determined to be “with Him, by His Side,” He immediately will “hold me in His Right Hand!

Wow!

Watch Asaph’s faith grow. He began the Psalm with doubts … but no more! Follow the progression …

“22 So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee. 23 NEVERTHELESS I AM CONTINUALLY WITH THEE: thou hast holden me by my right hand. 24 Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. 25 Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. 26 My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever. 27 For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee. 28 But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.” Psalm 73:22-28, from doubt to certainty! From ignorance to assurance!

Our being “continually” with the Lord might be compared to Jesus’ great “Abide in Me” Statements from the Gospel of John.

One example … “If ye ABIDE IN ME, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” John 15:7

God … continually with us!

Question is … will we (like Asaph) be/live/fellowship continually with Him?

Psalm 115:8 says that those who worship idols will eventually be just like them, just like the gods they serve!

Psalm 73:23 perhaps proves that.

God is faithful.

Asaph shall be faithful too.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Are YOU continually with Him?

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