Listen To the Watchmen by Brother Duke Hansen

         This morning we will be reading in a couple of places. The first place will be in the book of Ezekiel chapter 33. Our second scripture selection is in 2 Peter.

        You've been taught or have heard through your life that when good things happen to someone, it's because of God. When bad things happen to someone, it's from the devil. We carry this simple binary mindset through life. The scripture strikes down this mindset as not so. Let's begin reading with verse 1.

        Again the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,

        2 Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say unto them, When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man of their coasts, and set him for their watchmen:

        Look at verse 2 for this line; "When I bring the sword upon a land." Who will bring the sword? It's God. The goal of the devil is to oppose the word of God. "The people of the land take a man of their coasts." God will raise up a person whom the people will follow and set as a watchman.

        Now, in scripture the term watchman applied to the physical sense as well as the spiritual sense. In the physical sense, watchmen were always on the lookout for an attack to warn the people, They were always looking. In the spiritual sense, God appointed men like Ezekiel as a watchman over the souls of his people. The prophet's job as a watchman is to urge God's people to live faithfully. He also warns people of falling away from the Lord and doing evil.

        3 If when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people;

        4 Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head.

        5 He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul.

        You have an opportunity to listen and hear for a warning and then relay the word to the people.

        6 But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman's hand.

        As a people we either take the word serious or we don't. We often say the right things, yet we live the wrong way. When the pastor speaks the word of God, they are following a duty. God asks the question to you on purpose. You can wither follow it or ignore it. The problem at times is we think God needs us when he doesn't. He can always get someone else. Look in the old testament where Elijah fled in the wilderness and wished death (1 Kings 19)

        Look at the life of Esau. Starting in Genesis chapter 25. The Lord hated Esau even before he was born. His life would run parallel to his brother Jacob's life.

        God gives insight to those who can see the sword coming. The watchman will issue the warning of judgement coming to the church.

        7 So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth and warn them from me.

        We are all judged by the word of God day to day. We don't know the timetable we have to live. It's upon us to follow the scripture, see what we line up with and work on what we don't line up with in the text.

        8 When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.

        9 Nevertheless, if thou 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 thou hast delivered thy soul.

       10 Therefore, O thou son of man, speak unto the house of Israel; Thus ye speak, saying, If our transgressions and our sins be upon us, and we pine away in them, how should we then live?

        If we have sin and iniquity present in our life, how then should we live? Let's look at verse 11.

        11 Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord of God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die. O house of Israel?

        God is speaking this to Ezekiel. To live is referring to your spiritual life. What is it that motivates your iniquity? It's your flesh at work. There is no comparison of self righteousness and biblical righteousness.

        Let's turn to the book of 2 Peter chapter 2.We will start to read with verse 1.

        But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

        2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.

        3 And though covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgement now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

        The teachers and preachers of false doctrine are working people as suckers. They are selling you a lie by contaminating the truth for your flesh to be appeased with and your itchy ears to cease. They promote sin and call it blessing. When you have a people who don't have what it takes, they will work others to make a fool of in life to feel better about themselves. 

        Do you understand what covetousness is? It's desiring and lsting for something that someone or some group has. Our flesh is focused on the things we don't possess. God wants us to focus on the things that are good in life. To counter prevalent bitterness is by having joy. When you enjoy transgressions, it isn't joy. Your flesh will always be about going after the things you don't have but you think you are entitled and deserving for. Your flesh is a born liar and deceiver. It's a natural born killer. We label others the devil or evil when our darkenss is a few shades brighter than theirs.

        4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment.

        5 And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly.

        You can be used if you want to be a fool. Everyone has a use being a fool for a larger cause.

        Your judgement is not going to slumber. Judgement is coming. You have a season to work upon yourself and getting right with God's principles.