will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins” (James 5:19, 20 NKJV). We’ve got to watch each other! Some are spiritually


drifting, and we need to care about that. Children need watching. As they get older, they generally


want to be watched less, but that’s usually when they need to be watched the most. “Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in the spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted” (Galatians 6:1 NKJV). By watching in love, we can claim a brother or sister in Christ who would have been lost otherwise! A man in Africa worked


“‘They shall be Mine,’ says the LORD of hosts, ‘On the day that I make them My jewels.’”


to the landfill. They might look like common rocks on the outside, but many are really bearing a diamond within. If we’re not paying attention, they’ll pass us on the conveyor belt to oblivion. “‘They shall be Mine,’ says the LORD of hosts, ‘On the day that I make them My jewels. And I will spare them As a man spares his own son who serves him’ ” (Malachi 3:17 NKJV). You are your brother’s


keeper. Watch yourself and watch others. Plus, you need to be receptive to others watching over you! “Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account” (Hebrews 13:17 NKJV). As Americans, we love our


in a diamond mine. He was leaving work one day but happened to be watching the conveyor belt as it was taking rocks to the crusher. These were the worthless rocks, to be pulverized and dumped into the landfill. He happened to notice a hand-sized rock and thought it didn’t look right. He grabbed it off the conveyor belt and took it to his supervisor. It ended up being the 10th largest diamond in the world—616 carats. This diamond in the rough was going to be thrown into a landfill but for an alert worker who was watching. They gave him a reward of $15,000. How great will your reward be if you watch? Every day we meet some of God’s diamonds who are on their way


8 Inside Report | 2Q 2012


independence. We don’t want anybody in our business. We have been so bombarded


with this idea, however, that when you talk about Christians watching out for each other spiritually, it seems invasive and nosey. But we should care enough about one another that we watch out for each other spiritually.


WATCHING THE ENEMY I had a friend in the hills who once owned an ornery


goat. One time when he asked me to care for his livestock, he warned, “Don’t ever turn your back on that goat. As soon as you do, he’ll butt you so hard you will need to change your ZIP code!” Well, the little beast never did get me, but I saw him knock someone else off his feet. He would graze


peacefully like he didn’t care you were there. But just as soon as you took your eyes off him, wham! The devil is like that. We need to watch the enemy. Peter says, “Be sober, be


vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8 NKJV). Good pickpockets often work in teams. One of them will


cause a distraction while the others pick the pockets. Long ago, when I was young and far from being a Christian, I worked with a friend to steal from grocery stores. He would go into a store and make a big ruckus. Of course, everybody turned to look, even the security guard. Then, while everyone was watching him, I would slip a steak under my shirt and head out the door. Soon my friend would calm down and walk out too. We never got caught. Likewise, the devil is a master at diversionary tactics. He


creates minor doctrinal distractions to get everybody looking away from the bigger moral problems. Let’s watch out for these tricks and do our best to keep Jesus and His Word as our focus.


WATCHING AND WARNING What good is a blind, deaf, and mute watchdog? This is


how Isaiah describes religious leaders who don’t warn people when the enemy is near. “His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber” (Isaiah 56:10). When war was eminent, Israel would position watchmen


strategically on the wall for maximum visibility of their surroundings. Approaching armies often kicked up a thick cloud of dust, which you could see from miles away. Sometimes, you could hear the ground rumble. Should a watchman see the dust and hear the rumbling of an approaching enemy army, he would blow a trumpet to


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32