The Watchman's Voice

Tithes and offerings have always been part of God's covenant with His people from the Old Testament to the New. Yet, they remain a topic of confusion, debate, and even controversy across many churches around the world, including in Nagaland. In an age where false teachers are on the rise and the so-called "prosperity gospel" is both preached and misused, the biblical teaching on tithing and giving has been severely misunderstood or neglected altogether. Despite the misrepresentation of prosperity by some, God’s principles regarding tithes and offerings have never changed . His Word is eternal, and He has not lowered His standards to accommodate human reasoning or culture. Leviticus 27:30 clearly states, “A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord.” The tithe belongs to God. It is not a donation, nor a favor, it is a recognition that God is the source of all we have. Yet many fai...

In a state that proudly bears the title of a “Christian State,” where cultural diversity and rich traditions are celebrated, the name Jesus Christ is no stranger. His name is printed in newspapers, echoed in prayers, sung in choirs, and engraved in countless public events and family altars. From Sunday schools to Bible verses posted on social media, His name is constantly before us. But here lies the great spiritual dilemma: do we know about Him, or do we truly know Him? There’s a world of difference between knowing facts about someone and knowing them personally. To illustrate, think about the Prime Minister of India. We all know his name, his face, his policies. But that doesn’t mean we know him personally. We don’t dine with him, walk with him, or hear him call our name in the quiet hours of the night. That kind of knowledge requires relationship and intimacy. The same applies to our relationship with Jesus Christ. In Matthew 16:15, Jesus turns to His disciples and asks one of the m...

When we hear the word Gospel , what image or name comes to mind? For many of us, the immediate answer is Jesus Christ   and rightly so. Others might say Good News , Salvation , Redemption , or Grace . All these are biblical and correct. But one thing is sure: where there is the Gospel, there is also a sinner who needs a saviour . Why? Because the Gospel is not preached to the righteous, but to the lost. Jesus Christ came for sinners. That is the very heart of the Gospel. Who Is a Sinner? The word sinner is a term we are all too familiar with. It is commonly understood as someone without God, someone apart from God and this definition stands true biblically. In fact, Romans 3:23 says, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” All means all , no exceptions not even babies. Why? Because sin entered the world through one man Adam (Romans 5:12). And through Adam, all became sinners. This inherited nature of sin is not something we earned by our actions it is somethi...

The Kingdom of God has always had one entry point and it has never changed. That door is Jesus Christ. He boldly declared in John 14:6, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Salvation is exclusive to Christ alone, and the only reason anyone will not enter the Kingdom is unbelief specifically, not placing faith in the person and finished work of Jesus. However, while there is only one reason for missing the Kingdom (unbelief), there are many sources that lead to this unbelief. People are hindered from putting their trust in Jesus because of factors such as self-righteousness, false doctrine, man-made traditions, religious systems, worldly pleasures , and a very overlooked cause fear . Most of us are familiar with self-righteousness and religious traditions. But fear? Many believers and even genuine God-seekers fail to recognize how fear especially religious fear has kept them from fully embracing Christ. And that fear, tragically, is o...

There has been a shift an eternal shift that many have yet to see. A veil has been torn, and the time has come for it to be removed from the eyes of all who thirst for the well of eternal life. This is not a topic for debate; it's a divine truth rooted in Scripture and revealed through the finished work of Jesus Christ. We are no longer under the old covenant of the Law, which came through Moses on Mount Sinai. God has moved—He has transitioned His dealings with humanity from Mount Sinai to Mount Zion, the city of the living God, the mountain of grace. Yet many still live as though nothing has changed. They are blinded, not by ignorance alone, but by the veil of Moses the symbolic blindness that occurs when the Law is preached without the revelation of Christ. This veil must be lifted. I am not suggesting that God has changed, He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. But what has changed is the covenant , and with that change comes a new way of relating to God. The Law and I...

Since the birth of the early Church as recorded in the Bible, believers have continually been warned of false prophets, deceptive teachers, and seducing spirits that would arise especially in the last days. These warnings are not vague or occasional; they are repeated across the New Testament as a crucial caution for the Church. Jesus Himself warned in Matthew 24:11, “Many false prophets shall rise and shall deceive many.” Paul, Peter, John, and Jude echoed the same concern. The apostles knew that deception wouldn’t just come from outside the Church, but from within. We are now living in the very days the Scriptures warned about. The world is growing darker, and evil is not hiding anymore—it is celebrated. At the same time, many in the Church remain passive or misled, often failing to discern between godly conviction and religious tradition. When people hear about false prophets and deception, many assume it will come through grand spectacles people performing miracles, prophesying fal...

A deep debate has echoed across the global Christian community since decade, " are we saved by our good works, or are we saved by faith ?" This has not only been a theological question but a point of spiritual identity. The question reaches into the very heart of the Gospel. And this debate has also found fertile ground here in Nagaland. Though Nagaland is known as a Christian state, rich in church traditions, cultural heritage, and moral values, it has perhaps unintentionally often leaned toward the idea that salvation must be earned through good works. It’s not uncommon to hear people equate Christian living with being morally upright, doing good deeds, faithfully giving tithes, and regularly attending church, all in the hope that these actions secure their place in heaven. But is that what Scripture teaches? Let us go straight to the Bible. In Ephesians 2:8–10, the Apostle Paul makes this foundational truth crystal clear: For it is by grace you have been saved, through fa...

“Now Samuel did not yet know [or personally experience] the Lord, and the word of the Lord was not yet revealed [directly] to him... Then the Lord came and stood and called as at the previous times, ‘Samuel! Samuel!’ Then Samuel answered, ‘Speak, for Your servant is listening.’” — 1 Samuel 3:7, 10 (AMP) This passage marks a significant turning point in Israel’s spiritual history. It’s not just the beginning of Samuel’s prophetic journey—it’s a quiet rebuke of a generation that had grown familiar with religion but distant from revelation. In the stillness of night, when the temple was dim and leadership had lost its sharpness, God did something unexpected: He bypassed the priest and whispered to a child. 1. Eli Had the Position, but Samuel Had the Posture Eli was the high priest appointed, respected, and experienced. He had been in ministry for decades. Yet when God wanted to speak, He didn’t go through Eli. He went to a boy. Why? Because position alone doesn’t move the heart of God. Wh...

When we view the entire system of the world, it is clear that much of what we see is broken, corrupted, and often spiritually dark. The Bible does say that, for now, “the whole world lies under the sway of the evil one” (1 John 5:19), and Satan is referred to as “the ruler of this world” (John 12:31). Yet, even this dark reality does not nullify the greater truth— everything in existence ultimately belongs to and revolves around Jesus Christ . Colossians 1:16 reminds us powerfully: “For in Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through Him and for Him.” Every throne, every realm, every being, whether in the natural or spiritual, was created by Him and for Him . The narrative of the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, is not primarily about man’s morality but about God’s redemptive plan through Christ , accomplished by His finished work on the cross . Sadly...

God is perfect in all His ways. He is never wrong, and His Word is eternal truth. As it is written, “The word of our God stands forever” (Isaiah 40:8). But we, as humans, are not perfect—we are frail, flawed, and fall short of His glory. Our weaknesses, when not brought under the lordship of Christ, can distort how we understand and live out our faith. Today, I want to reflect on two areas that often go unexamined but have significant influence in our Christian walk: emotions and honor. Both are good and God-given, but when mishandled or misunderstood, they can lead us into spiritual confusion, deception, and even bondage. Let’s take an honest look at two negative expressions of each in the context of our Christian faith. Part 1: The Misguided Role of Emotions in Christian Practice God created us as emotional beings. Joy, sorrow, anger, compassion—these are all part of the human experience. Expressing emotions is not inherently wrong. In fact, the Psalms are full of raw emotion poured ...

The Lord Jesus Christ is the supreme authority above all powers, dominions, and authorities—both in heaven and on earth. As stated in Ephesians 1:20–22 , God exalted Christ above every rule and authority and placed all things under His feet. Similarly, Philippians 2:9–11  declares that God gave Him the name that is above every name, and that every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. This is the foundational truth of our faith: Jesus is Lord over all. In His sovereignty, Christ has also appointed earthly authorities. Within the body of Christ—His Church—He has established spiritual leadership: apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, and evangelists to shepherd and equip His people. But beyond the church, God has also instituted civil or governmental authorities to oversee and maintain order in worldly affairs. This includes central governments, state governments, and district or local administrations. They are not separate from God's order; rather, they...