We Are Watchmen
Scripture: Ezekiel 33:1-16; Luke 10:25-29; First Timothy 2:1-4
“(1) Again the word of the LORD came to me, saying, (2) ‘Son of man, speak to the children of your people, and say to them: 'When I bring the sword upon a land, and the people of the land take a man from their territory and make him their watchman, (3) when he sees the sword coming upon the land, if he blows the trumpet and warns the people, (4) then whoever hears the sound of the trumpet and does not take warning, if the sword comes and takes him away, his blood shall be on his own head. He heard the sound of the trumpet, but did not take warning; his blood shall be upon himself. But he who takes warning will save his life. (6) But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, and the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at the watchman's hand. (7) So you, son of man: I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore you shall hear a word from My mouth and warn them for Me.” (Ezekiel 33:1-7)
The title of my message this morning is “We Are Watchmen.” If you take the time and look up the definition of watchman, you’d likely find this meaning: “a person who keeps guard over a building at night, to protect it from fire, vandals, or thieves. A person who guards or patrols the streets at night.” While we are not traditional watchmen by this definition, as a pastor, my responsibility before God is to sound the alarm whenever I believe you are in danger from the temptations of the world, and from what some Christians say about how we are to live as Christians. I will explain this in more detail later, but for right now what I want you to know is that the responsibility of a watchman is not limited to the pastor or others in person leadership positions. As a child of God, all of us are all called to be watchmen, looking out and raising the alarm when someone is living in such as a way that it endangers their eternal destination. So why do I say that we are all called to be watchmen?
We have had discussions in the past about being our brother’s keeper. Some take the stance that everyone has the right to live as they choose and this is absolutely true. But, even with this being true, a child of God has the responsibility to love others as Jesus does and through that love do their utmost to sustain, protect and encourage the lives around them. Do you remember the story of the Good Samaritan? In Luke chapter ten, the following is recorded starting with verse twenty-five: “(25) And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, ‘Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?’ (26) He said to him, ‘What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?’ (27) So he answered and said, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND,’ and ‘YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ (28) And He said to him, ‘You have answered rightly; do this and you will live.’ (29) But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, ‘And who is my neighbor?’” (Luke 10:25-29)
When the lawyer answered Jesus correctly, he knew that he had not done everything that he had just quoted in his answer, especially about loving your neighbor. So to “justify himself” the lawyer asked Jesus to clarify who his neighbor was. This is when Jesus told him the story of the Good Samaritan. We won’t read the whole story, but you remember that a man was traveling and was attacked by thieves. The man who was attacked was a Jew and he had been left on the side of the road badly injured. A priest walked by and saw him and kept on walking. Next a Levite saw him and kept on walking. These two should have immediately stopped and helped one of their own. But the third person, a Samaritan, stopped and helped a man who, under normal circumstances, would not have had anything to do with him. At the close of the story the following is recorded: “(36) So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves? (37) And he said, ‘He who showed mercy on him.’ Then Jesus said to him, ‘Go and do likewise.’” (Luke 10:36-37) The point Jesus made to the lawyer, and to each of us, is that we are our neighbor’s keeper. We are watchmen! And because we are we have a responsibility to those who are not like us and who live lives that we strongly disagree with because it goes against the Word of God. The Samaritan in this story was the watchman because he showed compassion to the person that under normal circumstances would not have given him the time of day.
This is what Jesus taught us, but this is not how many Christians are living today. Do you all recall the tragic shooting in Orlando in 2016 involving the homosexual night club? After the shooting, some Christian leaders had some nasty things to say about the incident. These Christian leaders were supposed to be the ultimate watchmen, but they failed miserably in this situation and in how they were supposed to help their congregations understand God’s heart for the people who died. I know that when it comes to the gay and lesbian community there is a divide in the body of Christ. But this is not a message about that divide. This is a message about what Jesus said to the lawyer. This is a message about being a watchman! When some pastors were interviewed following this tragic event, they rejoiced. Some spoke from the pulpit rejoicing that it had happened. It troubled me when I heard that one pastor, referring to the shooting, said that it was nothing more than what they had earned – it was God's judgment being released upon them. Another pastor – not a layperson – said the only thing that he hated was that there were not more in the night club. And yet another pastor said, “The tragedy is that more of them didn’t die. The tragedy is I’m kind of upset that he didn’t finish the job! I wish the government would round them all up, put them up against a firing wall, put a firing squad in front of them, and blow their brains out.” New Light, these were pastors who were filled with hatred for the gay and lesbian communities and if they said these things following that tragedy, what else are they teaching their congregations on a normal Sunday that is not in agreement with God’s heart for people? What are their congregations saying? These pastors told their people that those men and women deserved what happened to them in that nightclub. And we wonder why the gay and lesbian communities believe that Christians don't care about them. These pastors are supposed to be watchmen and yet they praised the destruction visited upon those they despised. And let’s be clear this morning: God does not despise the people living this way. He loves them. He does not want them to spend an eternity in the lake of fire. He wants them to spend an eternity with Him. But the responses of these pastors were the opposite of what Jesus has instructed us to be and to do!
Galatians 5:6 says, “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.” It seems that there is very little faith at work in the body of Christ today and it is because not enough of us are walking in love toward those who need to experience it the most. Hebrews 11:6 says, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” Since faith is activated by love and faith is what pleases God, then what is the issue? Love is the issue. That is what’s lacking in the body of Christ today. This is the reason why we are witnessing more and more hatred in society today. Christians are not walking in faith because they are not walking in love and if neither is happening our ability to perform our jobs as watchmen is truly compromised!
First Timothy 2:1-4 says, “(1) Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, (2) for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. (3) For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, (4) who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” Notice that verse one doesn’t say we should do these things for the body of Christ. It says we should make supplications, prayers, intercessions and giving thanks for all men. In other words, the saved and the unsaved! All men (and women) and not just for the people you like. All means all! If you cannot make intercession for people, you think are unworthy of God’s grace, then you my friend are in sin and in danger of missing heaven. Verse four tells us that the reason we should be doing verse one is because God “desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” God does not want anyone to die lost and in sin and the only way the person can have an opportunity to be saved is through the actions of the watchmen – those who are interceding on their behalf. I want you to see what Paul wrote to the Thessalonians in chapter three. “(12) And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you, (13) so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.” (First Thessalonians 3:12-13) What does the Lord want us to do? He wants us to show love to those who are not yet part of the family – He wants us to be watchmen! Paul wrote, “Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all.” (First Thessalonians 5:14) This verse tell us we are to be patient, not just with those who are in the family, but with all men – including those who are not in the family. We are to be patient with them. We treat them with love and compassion because, if we don’t, there may not be anyone else who will. This, New Light, is how we begin to operate in our calling as watchmen.
I want to demonstrate for you the actions of a watchman. Galatians 5:19-21 records the following: “(19) Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, (20) idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, (21) envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” As you read what Paul wrote to the Church in Galatia, he gave them a list of things that would keep someone out of heaven. Now as a watchman, what is my responsibility as it pertains to my interactions with people who are doing the things captured in these verses? Can I do more than just pray for them on the sidelines? Am I allowed to be in their presence, to have lunch or dinner with them? Let me answer the question for you – absolutely as long as their conduct does not rub off on me because, in reality, my interaction with them might be the only door they open to have an opportunity to hear about Christ.
Imagine if you will, someone you know who is an adulterer, fornicator, murderer, drunkard or someone who is always going off about something invites your Pastor out to lunch or dinner. Let’s say you see your pastor and this individual out smiling and talking in a lively conversation. What would you think? Would you think that your pastor was using this opportunity to try and witness to the person about Christ or would you think your pastor condones the lifestyle of the person because he agreed to have lunch or dinner with them? What would you think? Do you know that Jesus was faced with the same situation and do you know He chose to sit down and eat with those same individuals who were on their way to hell? Matthew 9:10-13 records the following incident, “(10) Now it happened, as Jesus sat at the table in the house, that behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples. (11) And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, ‘Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?’ (12) When Jesus heard that, He said to them, ‘Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. (13) But go and learn what this means: ‘I DESIRE MERCY AND NOT SACRIFICE.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” The religious leaders of Jesus’ day couldn’t understand why He would sit down and eat with tax collectors, whom they hated, and on top of that, sinners who were even worse! Jesus tells them why He is doing it – because they are the ones who need Him! They are the ones who need to be saved! And you know, Jesus said that we are to be doing the same things He did. Jesus said in John 14:12, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.” Those greater works includes witnessing to the lost, those who are living in sin without understanding the consequences, without understanding the judgment that awaits them, and having compassion on those whose lifestyles and practices differs from ours. Doing these things makes us watchmen!
I have talked about the word “watchmen” and I gave you the definition at the very beginning. But I want to close out this message by talking about the watchman’s role from a Biblical and historical viewpoint so that you will understand, not only the importance of your role as a watchman, but also the consequences of not fulfilling it. We are going to be reading from Ezekiel chapter thirty-three and I want you to think about what we see in this chapter in light of what is happening in the world today. We know that we are living in the last days and God’s judgment will be poured out soon, but what are we doing in light of this knowledge? Who are we talking to making a last ditch effort to lead them to Christ? What are we doing with our loved ones who are living in sin, but thinking they are saved? How are we walking before them? All of these questions are answered based on how we are walking and living as watchmen.
When you read Ezekiel, even though he’s talking about the house of Israel, what he says also applies to us today. Ezekiel 33:1-2 says, “(1) Again the word of the LORD came to me, saying, (2) ‘Son of man, speak to the children of your people, and say to them: 'When I bring the sword upon a land, and the people of the land take a man from their territory and make him their watchman.” Here the “sword” represented the judgment that was to come. What “sword” – judgment – has been released upon the land today? Jesus tells us in John 12:46-48. He said, “(46) I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness. (47) And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. (48) He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him, the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day.” Jesus’ word, the Bible, has already been given as the judge. Jesus came to save the world, but that can only happen when we accept, believe and act on His word. God told Ezekiel that when He brings judgment upon the land, if the people choose a watchman, that watchman will have responsibilities and will be held accountable. Let’s continue.
Ezekiel 33:3-5 says, “(3) When he sees the sword coming upon the land, if he blows the trumpet and warns the people, (4) then whoever hears the sound of the trumpet and does not take warning, if the sword comes and takes him away, his blood shall be on his own head. He heard the sound of the trumpet, but did not take warning; his blood shall be upon himself. But he who takes warning will save his life.” God says when the watchman sees the judgment coming and warns the people, if they refuse to listen to the warning then their blood is on their heads. However, those who heed the warning will be saved. The watchman’s job was to warn the people of the danger approaching, and if they did that then they had fulfilled their jobs. We are the watchmen. We are the ones who are supposed to be sounding the alarm of the judgment that is coming to everyone who will hear us – especially to those we know and love. If we are saved we cannot ignore those who are not and allow them to fend for themselves. And let me tell you why with verse six. “But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, and the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at the watchman's hand.” (Ezekiel 33:6) God says that if anyone is lost in their iniquity because the watchman did not sound the alarm, then He will hold the watchman responsible. Do you understand what is being said here? We are our brother’s keepers and we have a responsibility to those who are lost to share Christ with them. We have a responsibility to those who think they are saved and are not, to share with them what it truly means to be saved and live accordingly.
We are the watchman whose job it is to warn the people that the judgment is coming. Why? Because the Lord wants them to have an opportunity to repent and be saved. This includes sounding the alarm of repentance to our brothers and sisters who are living in way that could put their eternity with Jesus in jeopardy. The watchman’s job is to warn the people, not judge them and not be condescending. The word “warning” means “to teach.” The watchman is to teach the people – help them understand – what will happen to them if they continue to live in sin and don’t repent. The problem with the body of Christ is that we haven’t learned how to deliver the warning with love and compassion. We stand in judgment of them and, in some cases, hope they will die and go to hell. This is how many in the body of Christ are living today believing that they are in the right. Remember the words of the pastors about the tragedy in Orlando that I mentioned at the beginning of the message? We have not done a good job of helping those who need to repent understand why they need to repent and accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior. If you want someone to change, you have to help them see what needs to change and then show them how to change. Just telling them to change is not enough! Now let’s finish with what God told Ezekiel.
Ezekiel 33:7-9, “(7) So you, son of man: I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore you shall hear a word from My mouth and warn them for Me. (8) When I say to the wicked, ‘O wicked man, you shall surely die!’ and you do not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand. (9) Nevertheless if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul.” Do you see this? We are the watchmen! If we are not the ones teaching those living in sin why they need to change, God is going to hold us responsible – do you see this? Ezekiel’s job as watchman was to the house of Israel. At that time everyone was spiritually lost. Look at what God told Ezekiel to tell them in verse eleven: “Say to them: ‘As I live,’ says the Lord GOD, ‘I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die O house of Israel?’” (Ezekiel 33:11) Do you see this New Light? When the wicked repents that brings our Heavenly Father pleasure. Now here’s the good part, verse sixteen says, “None of his sins which he has committed shall be remembered against him; he has done what is lawful and right; he shall surely live.” (Ezekiel 33:16) Once they repent, the Lord will never mention their sins again! Do you see that, even today, how important it is for us to repent when we sin? Our Father will not hold that sin against us. He forgets it after we come to Him with a repentant and humble heart!
New Light, the body of Christ needs watchmen – men and women who allow the love of God to develop in them to the point they see things the way God sees them, hears things the way God hears them and loves people the way God loves people. This is what the world needs and God has given us the honor and the privilege and the grace to do it. The decision point is you and me. For me, I must ask myself, “Do I love the lost enough that I want to be a watchman? Do I want to have the responsibility of teaching those in sin that there is another life to be lived, either with my Heavenly Father or without my Heavenly Father? Do I love them enough not to scream at them or condemn them, but simply tell them what will happen if they continue to live the way they’re living?” There will be some who are not going to want to hear what we have to say, and that's okay. You see, the watchman’s job is to sound the warning. That’s our job - three words: sound the warning. We are not responsible for the results. We are not responsible for how the person responds. Our responsibility is very simple ladies and gentlemen: deliver the warning – deliver the teaching – as to why they need to make a change.
A watchman, New Light, you must care enough to treat people right and with respect. You can’t be a watchman for someone you are judging and condemning. New Light, never forget about all the things you have laid at the Lord’s feet and received forgiveness. Never forget. You are the watchmen New Light and some of you have children that you can train up to be watchmen. Train them to love people first. Train them to respect people first. Train them to always treat people with love. When I get to heaven I want my Father to say “Rodney, you didn’t do everything and you made a few mistakes, but I'm pleased with you.” That's what I want to hear New Light. Please be watchmen for the body of Christ and for those who are not yet part of the family. Be watchmen. Don’t let people die on your watch!
Until next time, “The Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord lift up His countenance on you and give you peace.” (Numbers 6:24-26)
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