WATCHMEN ON THE WALL(Contains some adapted materials)

God called Ezekiel to be a WATCHMAN:

Ezekiel 3:17Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me.

God called Ezekiel to “listen” attentively to His message.

Ezekiel was called to “warn” the people with God’s message.

His God given responsibility was to faithfully deliver this warning message.

I believe God wants to alert us - His people – in these days that we live.

The Lord calls for watchmen to watch out for spiritual dangers and bring people warning of coming destruction.

I believe it is needful that that we deliver a message of warning of the darkening days ahead. And that people heed the warning.

Many are not prepared for what is coming.

In another reference we again see the call to Ezekiel to be a watchman…

Ezekiel 33:1-9 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 watchman:

(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.

(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.

(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.

(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.

The watchman acts as a guard.

A ship’s lookout is like a watchman.

They take their post high up in the crow’s nest and look out over the sea. They warn of approaching ships, of storms and even pirates.

They also get to tell some good news – Land ho!

The ancient cities had walls surrounding them.

People were stationed in high towers, or stood on these wide walls as lookouts. They would constantly watch and scan the horizon for any signs of trouble… for the approach of hostile forces.

The enemy might attack without warning.

The watchmen had to keep a constant look out for signs of the enemy… to be always on the alert for any signs of approaching danger.

An entire city counted upon them to bring them warning.

The watchman was to be in his place, with his eyes open. He was to WATCH!

It’s been said that “Watchmen must keep awake, be they ever so sleepy” (Matthew Henry).

From his high and lofty lookout point, the watchman could see the dust rising up from far away marching feet. He saw the shining armour, sword, and spear.

As he saw the signs of an approaching army… His job was to WARN the people inside the camp of the coming danger…

If an enemy was approaching he was to blow the trumpet to alert the armed troops and call out a warning to the people.

WE are ALSO commanded to watch.

I truly believe that fearful things are just over the horizon. There are rough days ahead.

Forces hostile to Christianity are advancing against us.

It’s needful that we sound a warning.

We must… Sound the alarm Blow the trumpet Warn the people…

Isaiah 62:6 I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night…

It didn’t matter whether the weather was good or bad, sunny or rainy, lightning or thunder…

The watchman could never desert his post – under any circumstance.

The watchman could not fall to sleep, he had to be on alert all the time.

When he spotted signs of trouble, his duty was to blow the trumpet

and alert the people, close the gates, and call soldiers to defend the city.

We need men and women today who recognise the enemy and what he is up to.

Fathers who will be watchmen over families.

Preachers who will be watchmen over churches.

Where are the watchmen who see the danger of approaching judgment?

Where are the watchmen who see the enemy creeping ever closer to the walls of our churches, our families, our homes and our communities?

God cannot bless what is going on in His name when it is an unholy mixture. It is an unholy mixing of wickedness and worldliness.

Isaiah 5:20 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

Where are the watchmen who will set the trumpet to their lips and sound the warning?

Isaiah 58:1 Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.

Australia is in deep trouble.

We need to have our eyes open to see the direction our country is going.

For such a time as this – we need to have everyone at their station.

What are some of the signs we see? I heard yesterday that the so-called Islamic State is now calling itself the army of Armageddon.

In many churches the preachers are preaching a fluffy, feel good message instead of sounding the alarm that this nation is moving away from God.

We need faithful preachers, messengers of God, who are sounding the alarm.

Men like Ravi Zacharias have made some grave errors. Ravi appears on Joyce Meyer Today, and says to Meyer, "God has used you" and called her a 'great bible teacher'.

As Christians we are called to test everything and hold that which is good.

May we all heed the call!

We all need to have a watchman’s vigilance, courage and faithfulness.

There are signs we will face increasing persecution.

We are witnessing the destruction of the family unit.

There is an ever increasing intensity of apostasy are error seems to overtake many churches.

Many churches are embracing the Pope… As we inch ever closer to a one world ecumenical church. He wears the fish hat of the ancient god, Dagon.

Just days ago, at the turn of this New Year the Pope has released a video in which he stresses interfaith unity: He says: 'We are all children of God'.

The New World Order and the Vatican work hand in hand.

There are change agents everywhere. The New Age movement is spreading everywhere across education institutions, governments, the business world, and churches.

The occultic influence spreads across movies and cartoons…

In the churches we are seeing lying signs and wonders and the corruption that is Hillsong and the Pentecostal movement. There is much blending going on. People are not coming out and being separate, they are staying and blending in, caving in. This is evident where people are adopting the Hillsong music and the Hillsong brand.

We must not compromise. We must stand against error.

This is an evil hour and many will not receive the Word.

The hearer has the responsibility to take warning.

What will your response be to a Bible-based warning?

People can react to warnings in all kinds of ways. Some people will laugh it off, or some will even get offended at the one who is warning them.

One day a policeman pulled over a young female driver who was speeding.

"I’m only giving you a warning," said the policeman, handing a form to the woman.

"Oh, thank you so much, officer!" she said, folding the warning ticket neatly into her purse.

"I collect these."

Here was this young woman who had been warned countless times. Yet she continued to ignore the warning.

Some Christians are like that. They hear the warning, but they take no action.

Just like this young woman who collected the warning tickets many of us ignore the warnings that God sends to us and we go about our lives as if we are not responsible to anyone.

As watchmen we are called to bring warning in the night…

Isaiah 21:11 …Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night?

Darkness is covering the earth!

Ever since mankind first turned to evil, a darkness has arisen upon the earth. It is a long time of night…

There is a storm coming on this world, the magnitude of which has never been since the foundation of the world, and will never be again.

This storm is already beginning to rise on the horizon. We can see the storm clouds gathering. We can see the lightning flashing and hear the thunder roll as the nations of the earth are preparing for battle.

We see the militant gay agenda which is causing a tidal wave of immorality to sweep our land.

More than 100 million Christians are being persecuted globally, according to the 2016 Open Doors World Watch List.

God is sending forth His warning to the world through the voice of His true ministers of the Gospel and through His written Word.

Watchman, what of the night?

These are dark times.Evil times.These are sifting times.

Drugs are abounding.

David Bowie is dead. He said this…“Rock has always been the devil’s music; you can’t convince me that it isn’t. I honestly believe everything I’ve said—I believe rock and roll is dangerous. ...I feel that we’re only heralding something even darker than ourselves” (Rolling Stone, February 12, 1976, p. 83). Bowie left the world his last message – a video full of bizarre symbolism and satanic overtones. He declared “I’m the great I am”. Truly Bowie leaves behind him a blasphemous legacy.

Churches are drifting into worldly ways and a whole host of false doctrines. There is a shallowness and a carelessness. Compromise and error.

The Scriptures urge us to reprove error and to earnestly contend for the faith. Yet we see an increasing of leaven and corruption.

Galatians 5:9 A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.

There is much call for a proper biblical and spiritual stand. We need to stand for the cause of the truth – for godly families and for sound churches.

We need to study the word and learn to be truly Bible students. We need to hunger and thirst after righteousness and sound doctrine.

We have much need of warning. Let us ready ourselves for battle.

Ezekiel was called to bring to the nation God’s message.

His task was not an easy one.

His job was to deliver a strong word from God.

In our own world, and in our time, we have many rebelling against God.

It calls for the same message.

The enemy has entered the lives of many people.

James 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is

enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

We are called to be as watchmen, with a responsibility for knowing God ourselves, and making Him known to others.

Be faithful in presenting God’s Word.In presenting the Gospel message.

In Nehemiah’s day he led the people in rebuilding the broken walls of Jerusalem. He called everyone to maintain a watch.

Everyone was called to be on guard. Especially at the exposed places.

What about us?Where are we the weakest?Whatever the weak areas of our life – let us keep watch.

Whether it’s problems with greed, or the pleasures of this world, or lust, or pride, or drink, or fear.

Let us maintain our guard, lest the enemy exploit that weakness. Be on the watch.

Keep watch and guard the exposed places! Your weak spots.

Keep your eyes wide open, spiritually! Keep alert!

The world wants to know,

“Watchman, what of the night?”

The night is dark but we know that Jesus is coming back.

The night is dark because of the absence of the love of God in the hearts of men.

A survey found that 90% of those surveyed said the purpose of the Church is to meet their spiritual needs. Only 10% said it is to win the lost to Christ.

The night is dark because churches are more concerned with drawing crowds than with saving souls.

The night is dark, as we see some churches have become like night clubs, as social clubs instead of houses of prayer. Folk are wanting to be entertained rather than hear the word of God.

Our leaders are more concerned with pleasing man than serving God.

The night is dark because we are more interested in the philosophies of men than the message of Christ.

The night is dark because Christians by the millions sit in front of a TV set that has become a portal to hell with all kinds of movies and shows filled with perversion and we sit there while the occult pours into our living rooms and the minds of our children. The night is dark.

And whenever the messenger of God raises warning some Christians

can get all uppity, and get offended. Well we make no apology for delivering the Master’s message. As ministers of God we must obey our Master’s command, and give a faithful warning!

We have need of warning today.

Mark 13:22 For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.

Some would rather perish, listening to smooth talkers and enjoying an entertaining message.

The church is called to be the pillar and ground of the truth. We are meant to be Christ exalting, spiritually healthy, God-glorifying… And so we must stand forthrightly and resolutely against heresy.

The home and the church are divinely ordained institutions We face a constant barrage from the enemy on all fronts…

I have to sound the alarm and I have to make it clear. I will not tone it down.

1 Corinthians 14:8 for if the trumpet gives an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?

I have to sound the alarm to wake up the slumbering saints, to warn the sleepy Laodicean church.

The Laodicean church was the “not-quite” church. It had one foot in the world and the other in church.

Rick Warren says, “I’m not going to get into a debate over the non-essentials. Why be divisive?”

Willowcreek Community Church says, “There is no hellfire and brimstone here, no Bible-thumping, just positive witty messages.”

Consider popular modern preachers such as Consider Mark Driscoll, former senior pastor of Mars Hill Church in Seattle… He describes himself as “theologically conservative and culturally liberal.” His church hosts champagne dance parties and beer brewing lessons; the men watch and discuss R-rated movies. The church

operates a theater called Paradox that hosts secular rock concerts.

We must speak the truth.

2 Timothy 3:13But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

There is much confusion these days as we see an abandonment of truth, a multiplicity of so called Bible versions, a sweeping in of errors, and we see the Christian bookshop best sellers are often promoting blatant errors.

No wonder God’s people perish for lack of knowledge.

Worldly culture has weakened the church.

We are called to watch carefully for danger.

Our Lord tells us to watch out for times where there will be…another jesus… another gospel… another spirit…- 2 Corinthians 11:4.

We must stand at the gate, blowing the trumpet, and rallying the troops.

We must warn of threats.

As faithful servants, let us be watchmen, gate keepers… over our churches, over our families.

We must stand against the errors and compromise that threatens us.

There is an increasing carelessness about music and about doctrine. Churches are getting overtaken by worldly rock music and a dangerous mixture and lack of separation.

As one watchman of old has warned (Gordon Sears): “When the standard of music is lowered, then the standard of dress is also lowered. When the standard of dress is lowered, then the standard of conduct is also lowered. When the standard of conduct is lowered, then the sense of value in God’s truth is lowered” (Sears, Songfest Newsletter, April 2001).

We must be on red alert, and take this threat seriously.

Some of the trends are alike to a Trojan Horse that ultimately tones down the message and weakens the stand. Ultimately it leads to an embracing of the false doctrine of the charismatic movement, and aligns churches with the ecumenical

church, the forerunner of the one world religion of the end of days. If we fail to maintain our stand for a God honouring separation from error then we are in effect joining hands with the enemies of Biblical Christianity. Separation is a wall that honours God. It is a divinely-ordained wall of spiritual protection against apostasy and the world.

Compromise is a slippery slope. We are in a battle for the truth. If we fail it means death and destruction for our nation and for our churches.

1 Thess. 5:21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.

May we faithfully watch… for truth, and for error, for the interests of others, watch for ourselves, and be watching for the return of the Lord Jesus.

Let us not only constantly WATCH, but faithfully WARN.

The Bible is filled with important warnings for us…

We are called to Bible preaching, to watching out for souls.

We have a responsibility – and an accountability before the Lord.

We dare not be silent when the Word of God is being watered down, candy coated and sugar sprinkled.

We have a responsibility… To defend the truth To prove all things and to hold

fast that which is good To rightly divide the word of truth To contend for the faith that was

once delivered to the saints.