Knowing God In
His Glory
YOU NEED TO BECOME A WATCHMAN
Jerry A Collins
SCC
Ø
What is a watchman?
Ø
How does a watchman function in his role?
Ø
Why is there a need to have a watchman?
This past week I received a letter inviting me to attend a meeting of
several people who are friends with a Christian married man who has been
carrying on with another married woman, not his wife, for a handful of years.
Several of these friends had come to him individually and as a small group to
confirm these facts. While meeting with him the hope and intention was to wait,
pray and hope that he would leave this woman and return to a relationship with
his wife. This has not happened. What has happened is this other woman has
become divorced from her husband, and the Christian’s man’s marriage and family
is in shambles. Yet he refuses to do anything to stop the relationship with her
or admit that it is wrong or be the least bit repentant of the relationship. Repentance of course being a change of mind resulting in
corresponding change of action. The meeting I was invited too was to
consider excommunication or a sort of exiling from fellowship with him until
there is a change of mind and agreement to terminate this other relationship. I
am going to suggest that the call for Ezekiel to become a watchman in the
nation of
1. WHAT IS A WATCHMAN? 1-9
Chapter 33 is a transition in the book of Ezekiel from the
condemnation of chapters 1-32 to the future restoration of
and reported the fall Ezekiel could not speak except
to prophesy (24:26-27). But now God gives Ezekiel an illustration which He will
use to give him his next assignment. God reminds Ezekiel that the normal way
people protect a town, a village, a large city or a palace is to appoint a
watchman in a tower, who blows a trumpet when someone is approaching. In verses
7-9 we might loosely paraphrase: So God said Ezekiel you are
like a watchman in the tower and my word is like an approaching army. If you do
not warn them they will be destroyed by that army. And they will be destroyed
because they were unprepared. But Ezekiel, if you do not warn them, I am going
to hold you responsible. If you do not inform them of my word, they will die in
their sin but I will also ask you why you did not tell them. If you do tell
them and they still do not get ready for that approaching army, then their
destruction is because they refused to get ready and not because you did not
tell them and you have delivered yourself. If you tell them what I say and they
continue to live in sin, then it is their problem!
2. THE NEED TO BE A WATCHMAN 10-20
In applying this today we should not parallel the nation
3. THE MESSAGE OF A WATCHMAN
First a watchman warns someone about his sin. Ezekiel was to expose
the sin of the people so that they could have an opportunity to repent of it
and change their ways and avoid God’s judgment. Today we have the same
responsibility. When a believer close to us, part of our flock of influence,
pursues revenge, divorce, cheating customers, homosexuality, and we say nothing
but instead be tolerant of and supportive of it there is a sense in which their
sin is upon our hands. Second, a watchman can prevent us from sinning. Ezekiel acknowledges
in vs 12 that the righteousness
of the righteous man will not deliver him in the day of his transgression. We
have so many stories of people doing good things for the Lord with good
reputations crash and burn because of some sin that has become known in their
lives. How does that happen? God says because his righteousness will not
deliver him from that sin. What he needs is a watchman who has a vested
interest in his/her life to prevent sin from destroying them. Third, a
watchman encourages repentance vs 12, 15,19. Someone may say I’ve already committed adultery,
homosexuality, divorced/remarried. I’ve already followed thru with my revenge,
cheated my customers, hurt my family. Well the good news is that no matter what
you have done if you decide to repent and turn to God your sin will not get in
the way of that. So confess it and repent and change then all that sin which is
paid for on the cross will not effect your rewards at
the judgment seat of Christ. The problem today is believers don’t want to hear
that.
4. A WATCHMAN ANNOUNCES GODS WORD BECAUSE ITS GODS
God tells Ezekiel in chapter 2 to announce His
Word because it’s His not because they will listen. Of course we must do it in
a manner which does not cause people to reject it because we are obnoxious. But
remember, there is no good bad news. You mite say I cant do that because I am a sinner too. I did not say those
things were wrong. God did. If I am judge I’ll give you a bunch of rewards. But
if I am not better listen to the real one. At judgment you will not regret your
circumstances on earth only you sin/unbelief. Do not regret not being a
watchman in someone’s life when one close to you sinned and no trumpet
blew.