Watchmen, What of the Night?

Dear Friends,

With all my heart I greet you in the most precious name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, whose we are and whom we serve. It is amazing how time flies so quickly, as we are already half way through the year 2006. Let me first of all thank you for the strong support directed to me and Margaret during these most difficult and trying times and your love, thoughts and prayers have sustained us by God's grace.

My friends, it is in this atmosphere that God is placing on my heart a burning passion and a hunger for Him and His Word and then this deep desire to proclaim the Gospel of the Kingdom, which we as Ministers are commanded to do. Let us not forget that our mandate is to make disciples (Matt. 28:19; Mark 16:15). There must be some of you who are deeply concerned about what is being promoted in the church and electronic media as the Gospel but if you take a closer look and listen carefully, you will find that very little Gospel is being preached and therefore the trumpet should be blown and watchmen in Zion should rise up and stand on Is. 61 and 62.

Would someone please tell me why there is so much entertainment and Hollywood style celebrity status in what is purported to be the Church? Why are we playing poker games with the souls of men rather than telling them firmly to come to grips with the most important question in Scripture, "What will you do with Jesus?" Pilate could not handle this and washed his hands thus making him indecisive. We must tell men and women that a God of love is also a God of justice and we should never negotiate or make deals with this most sacred solemn obligation and calling, that God has placed on our lives.

Multitudes are in the valley of decision and the Church has abdicated its responsibility and replaced convicting messages and sound Bible teachings with pampering, sugar-coating and feel-good attitudes. I am indeed concerned because the same people go to the same conferences and huge meetings filling auditoriums getting blessed, getting prosperity and being entertained, keep returning to these same places searching for reality believing that God can be found somewhere in the crowd, as they are baptized in a sea of emotionalism and professional motivational speeches, void of the anointing and power of God. If this does not alarm you, I don't know what will. Is there no Word from the Lord? Where are the Jeremiahs, the Obadiahs and the Micaiahs?

Jesus preached only the Gospel of the Kingdom and was also the greatest preacher on hell in all of Scripture. His theme was "Repent" just as John the Baptist his forerunner. Why have we allowed the Devil to shut us up so we can no longer preach on the judgement and condemnation of God on the men and women who continuously reject him? Again I ask, "Is there no Word from the Lord?" and why have we lowered the standard and allowed the Devil to run rampant making havoc of our homes, churches, schools and the entire society? Do we not know that we are the salt of the earth and the light of the world? Something is wrong and we must catch the vision and bring a halt to this onslaught for I am totally convinced that somehow the enemy has sown weeds among the wheat, while the Watchmen fall into a deep sleep (Matt. 13:24-30).

Now then, can we get back to the business of the simple Gospel preached on the day of Pentecost by Peter, "The Death, Burial, Resurrection, Ascension and Soon Coming of Jesus?" That message brought in over three thousand souls and has not been duplicated since. When last have you heard any one of these topics addressed from the pulpit? Must they take a back seat to sensationalism, fund-raising, political pep-talk, celebrity testimonies?

I have nothing against all of these things but we must have everything in prosper perspective. I challenge all of you who are Spirit-filled to take a stand and be selective of what goes into your spiritual life. Preachers are entrusted with the task of watching for your souls so please do not be taken on a roller-coaster ride to the precipice of disaster. Rise up and demand from your leaders, the unadulterated uncompromising Word of God, filled with power to impact a world staggering into the abyss, for Sodom and Gomorrah was destroyed not so much because of their terrible sins but rather because God could not find ten righteous (note not ten churches or ten religious people, but ten righteous) in a city where Lot and his family lived.

Finally, we need the praying women of the Church and Ministers to howl and mourn between the porches and call a solemn assembly (Joel 2) because we are in a crisis and only Divine intervention will bring us through and then out. Pray for me here in Jamaica as I stand for truth and righteousness and I give you this assurance that I will not waver, I will not relent but the Gospel of the Kingdom will win, that is the message I boldly proclaim. Keep well and safe, walk good, one love and nuff respect to all.

Forever,

Your Friend & Missionary to Jamaica,

Rev. Dr. Hezekiah Farrell.