God Still Speaks, and God Still Shepherds

Service Notes

Love Our Neighbor - need for training to share Jesus with Muslims.

Next Sunday night a Family Meeting

Text: Ezekiel 33–34

Kids Story

God still speaks when people mess up.

God wants people to listen and turn back to Him.

And God never leaves His sheep alone.

Sermon Introduction

After failure, God calls His people to listen again, to repent honestly, and to trust Him as the Shepherd they were always meant to follow.

Review: God is watching how we respond when others fall.

Tonight: God is watching how we respond after we fall.

I. Our greatest danger after failure is not loss, but refusing to listen to God

Ezekiel 33:1–9 KJV

1 Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 2 Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say unto them, When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man of their coasts, and set him for their watchman: 3 If when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people; 4 Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head. 5 He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul. 6 But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman’s hand. 7 So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me. 8 When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. 9 Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.

God returns to the watchman illustration, not because the people missed it before, but because the moment now demands clarity.

A. God reestablishes the role of the watchman after judgment. v.7

The watchman sees danger but does not control it.

The watchman speaks truth but does not force response.

Responsibility remains even after judgment has come.

Failure does not cancel the need for truth.

B. God teaches that silence in the face of danger is sinful. v.6

Silence leaves people unprepared.

Fear of reaction does not excuse silence.

Withholding warning shares responsibility for harm.

Love is faithfulness, not comfort.

C. God limits accountability to obedience, not results. v.9

Faithfulness is measured by obedience.

Rejection does not invalidate truth spoken.

God frees His servants from outcome-based guilt.

The greatest danger after failure is not broken walls. It is hearts that stop listening.

Learn to start listening before you try to rebuild your life.

Do not rush past God’s voice to fix consequences.

Return first to Scripture, prayer, and accountability.

Ask plainly, “Lord, what are You saying to me right now?”

Proverbs 24:16 “16 For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.”

Psalm 37:23–24 “23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. 24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.”

II. Regret over consequences is not the same as repentance of the heart

Ezekiel 33:10–20 KJV

10 Therefore, O thou son of man, speak unto the house of Israel; Thus ye speak, saying, If our transgressions and our sins be upon us, and we pine away in them, how should we then live? 11 Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel? 12 Therefore, thou son of man, say unto the children of thy people, The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him in the day of his transgression: as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall thereby in the day that he turneth from his wickedness; neither shall the righteous be able to live for his righteousness in the day that he sinneth. 13 When I shall say to the righteous, that he shall surely live; if he trust to his own righteousness, and commit iniquity, all his righteousnesses shall not be remembered; but for his iniquity that he hath committed, he shall die for it. 14 Again, when I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; if he turn from his sin, and do that which is lawful and right; 15 If the wicked restore the pledge, give again that he had robbed, walk in the statutes of life, without committing iniquity; he shall surely live, he shall not die. 16 None of his sins that he hath committed shall be mentioned unto him: he hath done that which is lawful and right; he shall surely live. 17 Yet the children of thy people say, The way of the Lord is not equal: but as for them, their way is not equal. 18 When the righteous turneth from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, he shall even die thereby. 19 But if the wicked turn from his wickedness, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall live thereby. 20 Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. O ye house of Israel, I will judge you every one after his ways.

With the warning established, the people finally respond, and God examines the nature of their response.

A. The people confuse despair with repentance. v10

They acknowledge guilt but assume their is no hope.

They express sorrow without movement toward change.

They believe their past has disqualified their future.

This is not repentance. It is resignation.

B. God reveals His heart toward sinners without qualification. v.11

God swears by His own life, grounding mercy in His character.

Judgment was necessary, but never delightful.

God’s desire is always repentance leading to life.

This verse corrects distorted views of God that arise after failure.

C. God defines repentance as present and directional. v.14-15

Past obedience does not excuse present rebellion.

Past failure does not forbid present turning.

God evaluates the direction of the heart, not a lifetime resume.

Grace does not erase responsibility. Responsibility does not negate grace.

Stop rehearsing your failure and start turning your direction.

Name your sin without excuses.

Identify one concrete change that obedience requires.

Take a step forward even while feelings lag behind.

God responds to repentance, not perfect emotions and perfect plans.

III. When human leaders fail, God reveals Himself as the Shepherd we were meant to trust

Ezekiel 34

Having addressed personal responsibility, God now addresses leadership failure.

A. God exposes shepherds who fed themselves instead of the flock

Ezekiel 34:2 “2 Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks?”

Leaders used their position for personal gain.

The weak were neglected and the scattered ignored.

When shepherds fail, the people suffer.

B. God promises to shepherd His people personally

Ezekiel 34:11 “11 For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out.”

God steps in where leaders failed.

God moves toward the broken and lost.

Restoration begins with God’s personal care.

C. God promises one faithful Shepherd to come

Ezekiel 34:23 “23 And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd.”

God’s shepherding will be faithful and united.

This Shepherd gathers and protects the flock.

Human failure prepares the way for God’s Shepherd.

Shift your trust from people to the Shepherd without withdrawing from the care of others.

Do not abandon faith because leaders failed.

Do not isolate yourself to protect yourself.

Trust the Shepherd while staying connected to His people.

Ezekiel has now answered three questions clearly.

God still speaks after failure.

Repentance is still required in the present.

God Himself will shepherd His people.

What remains is response.

Returning to God’s will after failure

The New Testament shows what this looks like lived out.

1. Confess honestly

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us…” — 1 John 1:9

Confession is agreement with God, not self-defense.

2. Repent directionally

“Godly sorrow worketh repentance…” — 2 Corinthians 7:10

Emotion without turning is not repentance.

3. Draw near immediately

“Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.” — James 4:8

Delay often masks unbelief.

4. Receive restoration humbly

“Restore such an one in the spirit of meekness.” — Galatians 6:1

Restoration is God’s design, not a concession.

5. Resume obedience faithfully

“Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only.” — James 1:22

God usually restores through steady obedience.

6. Trust Christ as Shepherd

“I am the good shepherd… and I lay down my life for the sheep.” — John 10:11

Ezekiel’s promise finds its fulfillment here.

Failure does not silence God’s voice.

Repentance is always possible. And the Shepherd has not left the flock.