WATCHMEN

I’m going to keep this blog post simple. For several days now, I have been spending some time reading the book of Ezekiel. Particularly, Ezekiel chapter 3, verses 17-21, which is my focus for today.

​As we know, Ezekiel was a prophet appointed BY GOD. I feel it is important to point out the fact that Ezekiel was appointed BY GOD because we have a lot of individuals running around the Body of Christ declaring “I am a prophet.” “I am an apostle.” “I am this or that.” When they are only self-appointed men and women who are masquerading to be something when they are not. For the Scriptures are clear on this matter. 

One, it is GOD, not man, that appoints men and women in their proper roles. See 1 Corinthians chapter 12.

GOD says it like this through Apostle Paul. “Now, dear brothers and sisters, regarding your question about the special abilities the Spirit gives us. I don’t want you to misunderstand this” (1 Corinthians 12:1). Verses 4 through 7 – “There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us. A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other” (NLT). 

The kinds of spiritual gifts (or abilities) that are granted to men and women in the Body of Christ are listed in verses 8 through 10. And then it is established again, several times, who is responsible for assigning and distributing spiritual gifts to the Body of Christ.
 
1 Corinthians 12:11 - But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills (NKJV).
 
1 Corinthians 12:18 - But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased (NKJV).
 
1 Corinthians 1:28 - And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues (NKJV).
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And yet, today, there is so much confusion in the Body of Christ because men have failed to heed the LORD’s words concerning how GOD appoints men and women into their proper places and proper roles and proper regions and localities. BUT WHEN all things are done in decency and order according to the will and plans of GOD, then it benefits the whole (1 Corinthians 14:40). 1 Corinthians chapter 12, verse 6 says it this way. “The manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all” (NKJV). But I like the New Living Translation wording better. “A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.”

When we follow and operate within the plans of the LORD and not the protocols, processes, operation, and will of men, THEN as it says in 1 Corinthians chapter 14, verse 31, all our local churches and ministries will have peace. Because GOD’s plan eliminates confusion, while man’s plans only exasperate it.

And we see this is the case in the book of Ezekiel. So, we see, in the first two chapters, the LORD GOD appoints Ezekiel as HIS prophet specifically to the nation of Israel when Israel was in captivity under the Babylonia regime. As GOD’s appointed prophet, Ezekiel was given one special task. AND THAT IS TO WARN GOD’S PEOPLE OF THEIR OWN PERSONAL DESTRUCTION IF THEY DID NOT HEED THE WARNING OF GOD THROUGH HIS PROPHETS. (Not man’s prophets or self-appointed prophets, but GOD’s prophets).

Ezekiel was a watchman. GOD’s watchman over GOD’s people. And as a watchman, Ezekiel was responsible for instructing the people according to the way and direction of GOD during that season of testing and trials of GOD’s people. With that being said, I want to only highlight, five verses in Ezekiel chapter 3 for all our benefit.
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ezekiel 3:17

In this verse, we see GOD makes Ezekiel a watchman to speak on HIS behalf to the nation of Israel a word from the LORD – a word of warning. 

ezekiel 3:18-21

​In these next few verses, GOD is giving Ezekiel specific instructions on how his ministry should operate as well as GOD expectations of him as HIS prophet, and Ezekiel’s role and responsibility as well as the penalty if he fails to follow GOD’s instructions and directions explicitly.  
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In verse 18, GOD explains to Ezekiel, as HIS watchman, when GOD tells him that a person will surely die and Ezekiel fails to warn that person that the LORD said he (or she) will surely die; when that person dies because of his or her iniquity, the LORD will require Ezekiel’s own blood for his failure to warn that person according to the LORD’s word.

BUT IF Ezekiel warns that person of his or her unfortunate death and that man or woman listens and does not die in his iniquity, then Ezekiel will save his own soul for his obedience (Ezekiel 3:19).

This is the same in the case of a righteous man (a man or woman of GOD). If a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity. GOD will lay a stumbling block before him and that rigtheous man will die because GOD’s prophet failed to warn him. AND ALL THE GOOD OR RIGHTEOUS THINGS THAT RIGHTEOUS MAN HAS DONE FOR THE LORD, THE LORD WILL NOT REMEMBER. The LORD will not recount the righteous man's good deeds nor accredit them to his account in his book of life. It will be as if he has never done a good thing in his life. And for Ezekiel’s failure to warn this righteous man of his plight, the LORD will require the blood of Ezekiel because he failed to warn the man of his sin(s) (Ezekiel 3:20).

But just the same, if Ezekiel warns the righteous man and the righteous man heeds Ezekiel’s warning and does not sin or repent, he surely will live because of Ezekiel’s warning. And Ezekiel too will deliver his own soul from death (Ezekiel 3:21). 

The trumpets are sounding

​Today, we too are living in turbulent times like Ezekiel. Therefore, it is a time and season when GOD’s people are being pressed to compromise and or lay dormant or complacent. Therefore, GOD has assigned in this season, WATCHMEN. Men and women who are standing on the wall watching for any and every sign that will try to impede the forward work of the Kingdom. These have the responsibility to either warn the Body of Christ as a whole, or a specific church or ministry, and then there are those that are assigned to the people individually. They all are in their proper place, taking in daily instructions from the LORD and sounding the warning trumpets to people in their assigned territory. Do we hear the sounds of the trumpets? Or are we ignoring them? Are we aware as well as acknowledging the watchmen that the LORD has appointed for our benefit, for our good, for our protection, for our livelihood?