A Watchman's Vision

Turn your Bibles to Jeremiah 6:16-17a

Title: A Watchman’s Vision

Theme: Biblically Achieving Our Call

Topic: Biblically Understanding CrossRoads Vision

Listen as I read Jeremiah 6:16, “Stand at the crossroads and look… ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. I have appointed watchmen over you and said, ‘Listen to the sound of the trumpet.’” (Jeremiah 6:16 NIV) Pray!

Introduction: At this time in Biblical history, Judah was in danger of destruction because she had strayed from the ways of God. Therefore, the Lord raised up a prophet of God to admonish the people and gave them instructions on how to walk in a manner worthy of the people of God.

The New Testament has a warning of a destruction for all who do not desire the ways of God, destruction that affects the life and soul of mankind. Romans 1:18-32 says, “The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities--His eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened… Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator--who is forever praised. Amen.

Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.

Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, He gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.” (Romans 1:18-32)

Proposition: I would propose to you that in a world bound in the modern day wrath of God, there is a call upon the church to become aggressive in her fight for the souls of mankind.

Interrogative Sentence: Just what is our purpose at CrossRoads Church? Just what is our call? What is our belief based on?

Transitional Sentence: The first step to enjoying God’s will for us in the “Great Commission” is to grasp our purpose. Jeremiah wrote to a people who were about to suffer the consequences of sin, “I appointed watchmen over you and said listen to the trumpet.” (Jeremiah 6:17)

The concept of prophet as a watchman is found throughout the counsel of God’s word. Hosea 9:8a says, “The prophet, along with my God, is the watchman…”

“Prophet” (nabiy) here is an inspired spokesman who is raised up by the Lord to proclaim the message from God who does not contradict the law of the Lord or one who speaks from his own mind or heart. (The Complete Word Study) Thus, a prophet is a spokesman for the Lord and one who speaks under God’s authority. (Exodus 7:1; Easton’s Bible Dictionary; Harper’s Bible Dictionary)

The whole Word of God as it was written by men who received the revelation from God (2 Peter 1:20-21) communicates the Lord’s mind and will to men. Anyone who is a spokesman for the Lord, preaching the Word of God is thus exercising the grace gift of prophecy for the purpose of proclaiming divine truths to mankind. (Easton’s Bible Dictionary; Harper’s Bible Dictionary)

In the New Testament the prophetical office is continued. Our Lord is frequently spoken of as a prophet of the church. (Luke 4:2; 13:33; 24:19; Matthew 13:57; 21:11; John 4:19; 9:17) He is the Great Prophet of the Body of Christ and He has given the grace gift of prophecy to the modern day church. (Ephesians 4:1-16; 1 Corinthians 12:28; 14:26-32; Ephesians 2:20; 3:5; 1 Thessalonians 5:20; Acts 11:27; 13:1; 15:32; James 5:10; Harper’s Bible Dictionary; Easton’s Bible Dictionary)