"Why I’m Staying On The Wall!"
(Ezekiel 3:16-21/33:1-9)
INTRODUCTION:
You may be asking yourself, "What is a Watchman?" "And why do you need them?" A watchman is someone who stood upon a wall or a watch tower (I hate that the JW’s have almost ruined that word!). Some watchmen were set near fields and vineyards to see that the food supply wasn’t raided. (*Anybody here ever raid a garden at night? -show of hands) -You’re the kind of people why they needed watchmen!! (LOL) Other watchmen were placed in towers or walls around the city to guard against an enemy invasion.
A watchman would take a shift during the 12 hour night watch. The Jews divided their nights into three shifts, while the Romans had four watches (Mark 6:48).
The LORD was giving the responsibility of a watchman over the nation Israel to Ezekiel. God commissioned him to be a watchman two times. The first commissioning (3:17) was because judgment was coming and Israel refused to listen to the warnings (3:5-7). The second commissioning (33:7) was accompanied with a promise of future restoration. (34:11-15).
Ezekiel’s watch was for the spiritual well being of Israel, not necessarily for their physical well being. The enemy of Israel (Satan) had lead them into idolatry and grave wickedness that had displeased the Lord. As a watchman Ezekiel was then to blow the trumpet on sin and warn his people, much like Isaiah (Is.58:1).
Blowing the trumpet in the Bible was no new thing. There were three essential times recorded in scripture, when the trumpet was sounded. #1) In Time Of War - Num. 10:1,2,9. When it was time to do business with the enemy the trumpet was blown and the troops would make ready for war. * "He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never sound retreat!" This world has declared war on us and we need to declare war on them! > When Paul sailed from Troas towards Samothracia, (Acts 16:11) the island was the supposed place from which the Greek god Poseidon was said to have surveyed the plains of Troy. Had Poseidon seen the invasion of the Apostle Paul he would have ran to Mt. Olympus and shouted an alert to his Zeus and his comrades, "We are doomed! The kingdom of the living God is coming toward us!" * Leonard Ravenhill: "While Paul lived, Hell had no rest!" Paul sounded the trumpet for war and so should we! #2 In Time Of Worship - Num.10:7,8. That trumpet was called a shofar (a ram’s horn and still used today). It was the trumpet Aaron would have used when he called the congregation to worship. The priest also blew the shofar when they encircled Jericho. And Gideon and his 300 men blew the shofar and shouted, "The sword of the LORD and of Gideon!" It’s time we blew the trumpet of worship again. Too long we’ve been quiet. Too long we’ve allowed the world to intimidate us into a corner. Too long we’ve been afraid to be called fanatics by idiots and we remain silent concerning the God of ALL THE UNIVERSE! Speak up! Shout His praises! We aren’t losers, we’re WINNERS! (I Cor.15:57) #3 In Time Of Weddings(i.e. "day of gladness") - Num.10:10a In times of celebration they’d blow the trumpet (shofar) and that included weddings. The trumpet blast at weddings is to call in the presence of God Himself. According to a shofar player I talked with personally from a Messianic congregation, most of the time the trumpet (shofar) is blown just before the bride steps out to meet the groom!!! Matthew 25:1,6 / I Thess.4:16.
Ezekiel isn’t the only one that God has placed as a watchman. Every Christian, every preacher, every evangelist, every parent needs to stand on the wall, watch and blow the trumpet!
* I want to speak to us tonight on: "Why I’m Staying On The Wall!"
Friend, you and I haven’t been placed on every wall, but God has placed us on our wall where He can use us.
{ I’m Staying On The Wall...}
1) ...TO BE A WITNESS (3:17)
A) Noticed Who Placed Him On The Wall v.17 \ 33:7
<1> He set Ezekiel there so that back-slidden Israel could see that not EVERYONE had turned from God!
<2> He sets us there so folks can see there is still a remnant that follows the living God! While our society gives in to every ungodly pleasure imaginable, there is still a group of people who want to walk after holiness, righteousness and truth! (Titus 2:11-13) We need to stay on our wall as a witness that we still believe THE BOOK is right! THE BLOOD has power! And THE BLESSED HOPE is only a trumpet blast away!!
B) Notice What Words Are To Be Heard On The Wall (v.33:7)
<1> Without a doubt many scoffed at Ezekiel and let him know what kind of fanatic they thought he was, but he didn’t listen to their words, he listened to God’s words!
<2> I’ve decided I’m not on the wall to listen to the words this world has to say. I’m not listening to them try to tell me: * How to be a Christian, * How to be a pastor, * How to be a good mate (BTW, I’m NOT a mate, I’m a husband. - Mates a term used for monkeys and queers!) * How to raise my kids, * How to vote on my elected officials, etc. (Phil. 2:5, 4:8)
2) ...TO WARN THE PEOPLE (33:7)
A) Warn Them Of Satan’s Ways (Acts 20:29-31)
<1> Ezekiel knew who Israel’s enemy was. Many times he (Satan) came in forms of others gods, wicked living and all sorts of debauchery.
<2> Paul knew who the enemy was and warned others with tears.
<3> We too need to warn our people of the deceitful ways of the devil. Cry out against dangerous trends and wicked living. ** ILL: Have you ever seen a speed trap? After you got by it what did you do? You flipped your headlights off and on to warn oncoming cars to slow down or they would get a ticket. Why are we so willing to warn people about the state patrol but not warn them concerning the devil himself?!
B) Warn Them Of Sovereign’s Wrath (I Thess.1:10, 2:16)
<1> God told Ezekiel, (33:2) "...WHEN I bring the sword upon a land..." God’s wrath would not always lie silent. <2> In light of His coming and impending wrath, who are we witnessing to? (Ps.126:5,6)* Someone said, "The best place to pray for potatoes is at the end of a hoe" And the best place to pray for lost souls is out soul winning! You’ll NEVER get a burden while sitting on the couch. You HAVE to go where the people are. Where those in the gun point of God’s wrath and judgement are living -And RESCUE them!!!
3) ...TO WATCH THE ENEMY (33:3)
A) Watch His Deception
<1> Ezekiel knew the ways of the wicked and watched them so he could warn others.
<2> We must stay informed to the world around us. Matthew 10:16, "Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents and harmless as doves." -Jesus never meant for us to be ignorant of the times or the ways of this world. He knew politicians and events going on in His day.
B) Watch Him Devouring (33:4,9)
<1> Unfortunately, Ezekiel had seen the calamity of many of his fellow country men. Although he
had blown the trumpet of truth, some had refused to listen and lost their lives.
<2> We, like Ezekiel have seen our share of sorrowful stories. Prodigal sons and daughters, fallen
church leaders and worse of all, watching the unsaved turn Christ away for the last time.
4) ...TO WAIT FOR MY SAVIOR (I Thess.1:10)
A) Wait For My Redeemer
<1> Ezekiel was to wait until the Lord gave further commands before he ever left his post.
<2> We are just waiting for the next command; "Rise up children!" He has ALREADY paid for us,
now He’s coming back to pick us up and take us home with Him! * ILL: Dennis had the
Saturday off and was taking his son fishing with him. They had packed all their gear, loaded
up the canoe and were heading off to their favorite fishing hole. After they arrived and put in
the canoe, Dennis had to go back to the truck for a few more supplies. Just as he turned to
walk away he heard a huge splash! He turned to see the dock was empty where his son had
been standing. Immediately he jumped in the cold, murky water to rescue his son. He searched
franticly, until he found him at the bottom of the dock hanging on to the dock post. Dennis had
to literally pry his fingers loose from the dock to bring him above water to safety. Exhausted they
both laid on the dock a few minutes to catch their breath and then Dennis asked, "Son, why
were you holding on to the post? If you would had let go you would have floated to the top." The
boy answered, "Dad, I was so scared I didn’t know what to do. I just knew you loved me and that
you’d be coming after me. So I just held on until you got there."
B) Wait For My Reward (Matt.16:27) (I Cor.3:8)(Rev.22:12)
<1> God was faithful to Ezekiel. He was with him in captivity (Ez.1:1+), and gave him promises of
Israel’s restoration.
<2> Our Lord will reward us justly and fairly, "...according to our works,"
CONCLUSION:
The Lord has given you a place (i.e. wall) to stand on, are you still standing there today? Have you continued to blow the trumpet though it may cost you position, friendships and prestige? Do people know where you stand? Have you warned anyone lately?
