Go! And Wake Up! Sounding The Alarm Of Truth Series

Go! and Wake Up! Sounding the Alarm of Truth

Introduction: Go and Sound the Alarm

The Bible is filled with commands to go:

"Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone" (Mark 16:15, NLT).

"Go and make disciples of all the nations" (Matthew 28:19, NLT).

These commands remind us that the Gospel requires action. It is not a message to keep to ourselves; it is a truth we are compelled to share. But in a world where the Church can sometimes seem content to whisper when it should be shouting, we are reminded of the challenge from Dr. Michael L. Brown: "Far too many preachers today are playing a lullaby when they need to be sounding an alarm."

Today, we explore the theme of "Go! and Sound the Alarm," looking at our calling to share God’s urgent, transformative message with a world in desperate need. Let’s be stirred into action by God’s Word, ready to live lives of Gospel urgency.

The Church today is called to be a voice of clarity, hope, and truth in a world filled with confusion and darkness. The Church seems to have fallen asleep, we need to wake up, and proclaim the Gospel to a fallen and broken world.

The Gospel is not a soothing lullaby meant to comfort people in complacency; it is an alarm that awakens hearts to repentance, salvation, and action. It calls us to live holy, courageous lives that reflect the urgency of the Kingdom of God.

Our message today will focus on why we must sound the alarm, how we can faithfully proclaim God’s truth, and what it means to respond in action.

Point 1: Recognising the Need to Sound the Alarm

Ezekiel 33:6–7 (NLT): "But if the watchman sees the enemy coming and doesn’t sound the alarm to warn the people, he is responsible for their captivity. They will die in their sins, but I will hold the watchman responsible for their deaths. Now, son of man, I am making you a watchman for the people of Israel. Therefore, listen to what I say and warn them for me."

In ancient Israel, a watchman was responsible for protecting the city by warning of impending danger. Here, God charges Ezekiel with spiritual watchmanship, holding him accountable for proclaiming the truth. The word used for “watchman” in Hebrew, ?op¯eh, carries the meaning of one who observes carefully and acts with responsibility.

We, as preachers and believers, are spiritual watchmen. If we fail to sound the alarm when we see the danger of sin, we become complicit in the spiritual peril of others.

Acts 20:26–27 (NLT): "I declare today that I have been faithful. If anyone suffers eternal death, it’s not my fault, for I didn’t shrink from declaring all that God wants you to know."

Paul’s declaration underscores the responsibility to proclaim the full counsel of God, even when it is uncomfortable or unwelcome.

Imagine a firefighter arriving at the scene of a burning building but deciding not to alert the people inside because the message might upset them. It would be unthinkable! Yet how often do we hesitate to share the Gospel because we fear offending someone?

We must first recognise the seriousness of our calling. Our world is in spiritual peril, and God has entrusted us with the message of salvation. Will we be faithful watchmen, or will we shrink back in fear?

Dr. John Piper said, “Eternity hangs in the balance every time we preach or share the Gospel. How can we not tremble at such a responsibility?”

Point 2: Proclaiming the Alarm of Truth with Love

2 Timothy 4:2–4 (NLT): "Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favourable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching. For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths."

Paul warns Timothy of a coming time when people will resist the truth in favour of messages that align with their desires. The Greek word for “rebuke” (elegcho) means to expose or bring conviction, while “encourage” (parakaleo) involves comforting and urging others to act. Together, they form a balanced approach to truth-telling: boldness tempered with compassion.

Proverbs 27:6 (NLT): "Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy."

Truth spoken in love may hurt initially, but it leads to healing and restoration. Our aim is not condemnation but transformation.

A sculptor chisels away at a block of marble, creating beauty through careful, deliberate strikes. Similarly, God uses His Word to refine us, sometimes through uncomfortable truths that shape us into His image.