I Have Made Thee a Watchman

Ezekiel 3:15-21

Ezekiel 3:15–21 KJV 1900

Then I came to them of the captivity at Tel-abib, that dwelt by the river of Chebar, and I sat where they sat, and remained there astonished among them seven days. And it came to pass at the end of seven days, that the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, 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. When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul. Again, When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumblingblock before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Nevertheless if thou warn the righteous man, that the righteous sin not, and he doth not sin, he shall surely live, because he is warned; also thou hast delivered thy soul.

Pre-Sermon Ice-Breaker

Once upon a time, there was a king who was only 12 inches tall. He was a terrible king, but he made a great ruler.

Introduction

Review of Series

Throughout 2020 we have been reading through the Old Testament, about 3 chapters each day, and on Sunday, I have preached from a passage that is part of that reading.

Today we are in the book of Ezekiel. The name is derived from its Author, Ezekiel the prophet. Ezekiel means, “God Strengthens.”

Last year when we first began to read through the Bible we started in the New Testament. We encouraged you to look for cross-reference and to mark them. And we were particularly interested in finding cross-references between the Old and New Testament. The cross-references from the New Testament serve to give context to what we are reading in the Old Testament. We find one such cross-reference in Acts 20:26-27.

Acts 20:26–27 KJV 1900

Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.

The apostle Paul saw himself as a watchman, someone who would be positioned on the wall of a city to keep watch for the enemy or any other danger that was approaching . A watchman would then warn the people about what he saw.

God called Ezekiel to be a Watchman

Ezekiel 3:17 KJV 1900

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.

Like Ezekiel and Like Paul, you and I are called to be watchman. In our message today we will learn three characteristic of a watchman.

Body

A Watchman is Accessible

Ezekiel 3:15 KJV 1900

Then I came to them of the captivity at Tel-abib, that dwelt by the river of Chebar, and I sat where they sat, and remained there astonished among them seven days.

Matthew 28:19 KJV 1900

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Luke 14:23 KJV 1900

And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.

Examples of Andrew and His brother Peter

Kathy and Rochelle

Keith and Nancy

A Watchman is Active

Ezekiel 3:17 KJV 1900

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.

Hear

Matthew 11:15 KJV 1900

He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Mark 4:9 KJV 1900

And he said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Luke 11:28 KJV 1900

But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.

Warn

Colossians 1:28 KJV 1900

Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:

1 Thessalonians 5:14 KJV 1900

Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.

A Watchman is Accountable

Ezekiel 3:18–21 KJV 1900

When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul. Again, When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumblingblock before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Nevertheless if thou warn the righteous man, that the righteous sin not, and he doth not sin, he shall surely live, because he is warned; also thou hast delivered thy soul.

The sinner is accountable for his sin

Romans 6:23 KJV 1900

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

You are accountable for your witness

Ezekiel 33:6 KJV 1900

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.

Genesis 9:5 KJV 1900

And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man’s brother will I require the life of man.

1 Corinthians 3:14–15 KJV 1900

If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

Our reward - The soulwinner’s crown

1 Thessalonians 2:19 KJV 1900

For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?

Conclusion

Are you a watchman?

There are two types of people in the world - Saved or lost.

If you are saved - You are a watchman.

What kind of watchman are you?

You are either a watchman with clean hands or you are a watchman with bloody hands.

Decide today which you will be.