Being a Watchman
Watchmen have the responsibility of announcing the dawning of a new day.
In a passage describing the function and responsibilities of the prophets,
Ezekiel reported the watchman’s parallel responsibility to warn of impending
danger. If the watchman failed in his task, he would be guilty of the blood of
the people (Ezekiel 33:7-9), God tells Ezekiel “so you O son of man, I have set
you a watchman to the house of Israel, therefore you shall hear the words of
My mouth, and warn them for Me. When I say to the wicked, O wicked man,
you shall surely die; if you do not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that
wicked man shall die in his iniquity, but his blood will I require at your hand.
Nevertheless, if you warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn
from his way, he shall die in his iniquity, but you have delivered your soul”.
The prophet Isaiah compared the leaders of Israel to blind watchmen who
lacked the ability to see Israel’s danger, much less lead the people to
repentance. The prophets who served as Israel’s watchmen were the ones
who first saw the coming destruction of Israel and also the ones who first
announced their return to the land (Isaiah 62:6) God says “I have set
watchmen upon your walls, O Jerusalem which shall never hold their peace
day nor night; you that make mention of the Lord Yahweh, keep not silence”.
After Cain killed his brother Abel, God asked him where his brother was? And
he said I know not, am I my brothers keeper (Genesis 4:9). We are supposed
to be our brothers keeper (Galatians 6:1-2) says “brethren, if a man be
overtaken in a fault, you which are spiritual restore such an one in the spirit of
meekness, considering yourself, less you also be tempted. Bear you one
another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ”.
Jesus commissioned His disciples to go therefore and teach all nations and in
II Corinthians 4:1-6 Paul says “therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we
have received mercy, we faint not. But have renounced the hidden things of
dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully,
but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s
conscience in the sight of God. But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that
are lost. In whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of them which
believe not, less the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of
God, should shine to them. For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the
Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God who commanded
the light to shine out of darkness, has shined in our hearts, to give the light of
the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ”.
Jesus tells us to be salt and light to a dying world (Matthew 5:13-16), which
says “you are the salt of the earth, but if the salt have lost its savor, wherewith
shall it be salted? It is therefore good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to
be trodden under foot of men. You are the light of the world. A city that is set
on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a
bushel, but on a candlestick; and it gives light to all that are in the house. Let
your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and
glorify your Father which is in heaven”. Paul echoes in Philippians 2:13-15
“for it is God which works in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.
Do all things without murmurings and disputings. That you may be blameless
and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and
perverse nation, among whom you shine as lights in the world”.
Jesus says “what I tell you in darkness, that speak you in light, and what you
hear in the ear, that preach you upon the housetops”.
Jesus tells us to watch, as we are waiting for His second coming (Matthews 24:
37-42) “but as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of
man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and
drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into
the ark. And knew not until the flood came and took them all away, so shall
also the coming of the Son of man be. Then shall two be in the field, the one
shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill, the
one shall be taken, and the other left. Watch therefore, for you know not
which hour your Lord does come”. And in Mark 13:33-37 Jesus says “take
you heed, watch and pray for you know not when the time is. For the Son of
man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house and gave authority to
his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to
watch. Watch you therefore; for you know not when the master of the house
comes, at even, or at midnight, or at the cock crowing, or in the morning.
Less coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say to you I say to all,
watch”.
Paul warns believers in Acts 20:29-32 “for I know this, that after my departing
shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your
own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples
after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years
I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. And now, brethren, I
commend you to God, and to the word of His grace which is able to build you
up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified”. And
in Corinthians 16:13-14 “watch you, stand fast in the faith, act like men, be
strong. Let all your things be done with charity”. And in Ephesians 5:11-17
“and have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather
reprove them. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done
of them in secret. But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the
light; for whatsoever does make manifest is light. Wherefore He says, awake
you that sleep, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give you light. See
then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise. Redeeming the
time, because the day are evil. Wherefore be you not unwise, but
understanding what the will of the Lord is”.
I Timothy 2:1-4 “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers,
intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men. For kings, and for
all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all
godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God
our Savior. Who will have all men to be saved, and to come to the knowledge
of the truth”. Remember that we are in the army of the Lord and are
supposed to love what He loves. In I Timothy 4:16 the Bible says “take heed
to yourself, and to the doctrine; continue in them, for in doing this you shall
both save yourself, and them that hear you”. If we don’t tell them, how will
they hear (Romans 10:14) “how then shall they call on Him in whom they have
not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not
heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? Proverbs 11:30 tells us
that winning souls is wise.
Sermon by: Harriet Bond
Date: August 21, 2009
Watchmen have the responsibility of announcing the dawning of a new day.
In a passage describing the function and responsibilities of the prophets,
Ezekiel reported the watchman’s parallel responsibility to warn of impending
danger. If the watchman failed in his task, he would be guilty of the blood of
the people (Ezekiel 33:7-9), God tells Ezekiel “so you O son of man, I have set
you a watchman to the house of Israel, therefore you shall hear the words of
My mouth, and warn them for Me. When I say to the wicked, O wicked man,
you shall surely die; if you do not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that
wicked man shall die in his iniquity, but his blood will I require at your hand.
Nevertheless, if you warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn
from his way, he shall die in his iniquity, but you have delivered your soul”.
The prophet Isaiah compared the leaders of Israel to blind watchmen who
lacked the ability to see Israel’s danger, much less lead the people to
repentance. The prophets who served as Israel’s watchmen were the ones
who first saw the coming destruction of Israel and also the ones who first
announced their return to the land (Isaiah 62:6) God says “I have set
watchmen upon your walls, O Jerusalem which shall never hold their peace
day nor night; you that make mention of the Lord Yahweh, keep not silence”.
After Cain killed his brother Abel, God asked him where his brother was? And
he said I know not, am I my brothers keeper (Genesis 4:9). We are supposed
to be our brothers keeper (Galatians 6:1-2) says “brethren, if a man be
overtaken in a fault, you which are spiritual restore such an one in the spirit of
meekness, considering yourself, less you also be tempted. Bear you one
another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ”.
Jesus commissioned His disciples to go therefore and teach all nations and in
II Corinthians 4:1-6 Paul says “therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we
have received mercy, we faint not. But have renounced the hidden things of
dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully,
but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s
conscience in the sight of God. But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that
are lost. In whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of them which
believe not, less the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of
God, should shine to them. For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the
Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God who commanded
the light to shine out of darkness, has shined in our hearts, to give the light of
the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ”.
Jesus tells us to be salt and light to a dying world (Matthew 5:13-16), which
says “you are the salt of the earth, but if the salt have lost its savor, wherewith
shall it be salted? It is therefore good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to
be trodden under foot of men. You are the light of the world. A city that is set
on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a
bushel, but on a candlestick; and it gives light to all that are in the house. Let
your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and
glorify your Father which is in heaven”. Paul echoes in Philippians 2:13-15
“for it is God which works in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.
Do all things without murmurings and disputings. That you may be blameless
and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and
perverse nation, among whom you shine as lights in the world”.
Jesus says “what I tell you in darkness, that speak you in light, and what you
hear in the ear, that preach you upon the housetops”.
Jesus tells us to watch, as we are waiting for His second coming (Matthews 24:
37-42) “but as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of
man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and
drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into
the ark. And knew not until the flood came and took them all away, so shall
also the coming of the Son of man be. Then shall two be in the field, the one
shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill, the
one shall be taken, and the other left. Watch therefore, for you know not
which hour your Lord does come”. And in Mark 13:33-37 Jesus says “take
you heed, watch and pray for you know not when the time is. For the Son of
man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house and gave authority to
his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to
watch. Watch you therefore; for you know not when the master of the house
comes, at even, or at midnight, or at the cock crowing, or in the morning.
Less coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say to you I say to all,
watch”.
Paul warns believers in Acts 20:29-32 “for I know this, that after my departing
shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your
own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples
after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years
I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. And now, brethren, I
commend you to God, and to the word of His grace which is able to build you
up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified”. And
in Corinthians 16:13-14 “watch you, stand fast in the faith, act like men, be
strong. Let all your things be done with charity”. And in Ephesians 5:11-17
“and have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather
reprove them. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done
of them in secret. But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the
light; for whatsoever does make manifest is light. Wherefore He says, awake
you that sleep, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give you light. See
then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise. Redeeming the
time, because the day are evil. Wherefore be you not unwise, but
understanding what the will of the Lord is”.
I Timothy 2:1-4 “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers,
intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men. For kings, and for
all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all
godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God
our Savior. Who will have all men to be saved, and to come to the knowledge
of the truth”. Remember that we are in the army of the Lord and are
supposed to love what He loves. In I Timothy 4:16 the Bible says “take heed
to yourself, and to the doctrine; continue in them, for in doing this you shall
both save yourself, and them that hear you”. If we don’t tell them, how will
they hear (Romans 10:14) “how then shall they call on Him in whom they have
not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not
heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? Proverbs 11:30 tells us
that winning souls is wise.
Sermon by: Harriet Bond
Date: August 21, 2009
