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2. The Watchman & The Warning!

3. The Watchman & The Warning! There have been watchmen all of our lives. The duty of the watchman: Watch and sound the warning! The duty of the hearer: Hear and prepare for what is coming!

4. The Watchman & The Warning! Ezekiel as the Watchman – Sound the warning! (Ezekiel 3:16-21; 33:1-20) • To the wicked: • If no warning was given by the watchman, the wicked would still die in their iniquities but God would require their blood at the watchman’s hand. • If warning was given by the watchman, the wicked would still die in their iniquities if they did not turn, but the watchman would have delivered his soul.

5. The Watchman & The Warning! Ezekiel as the Watchman – Sound the warning! (Ezekiel 3:16-21; 33:1-20) • To the righteous: • If no warning given by the watchman and the righteous commit iniquities, the righteous will die in his sin, but God would require their blood at the watchman’s hand. • If warning was given by the watchman and the righteous still turn from their righteousness and sin, they will still die in their iniquities, but the watchman would have delivered his soul.

6. The Watchman & The Warning! The duty of the watchman: Watch and sound the warning! The duty of the hearer: Hear and prepare for what is coming!

7. The Watchman & The Warning! Spiritual Watchman of today: Elders in the church (Heb. 13:7; Acts 20:28-31) Evangelist (2 Tim. 4:1-5) Spouses (Eph. 5:22-33; Col. 3:18-19; 1 Peter 3:7; 1 Cor. 7:10-16)

8. The Watchman & The Warning! Spiritual Watchman of today: Parents and/or Grandparents (Prov. 22:6; Eph. 6:4; Col. 3:21; 2 Tim. 1:5) All of us (Gal. 6:1-10; 1 Thess. 5:14)

9. The Watchman & The Warning! Today’s Warning Sin separates man from God (Gen. 3:24; Isaiah 59:1-2) All men have sinned (Romans 3:23) Sinners will not inherit the kingdom of God (1 Cor. 6:9-10)

10. The Watchman & The Warning! Warnings from the prophets (watchmen) to God’s people • The children of Israel had a lack of reverence for God • Isaiah, in his proclamation against Judah, emphasizes the people's lack of reverence for Jehovah. They have allowed idolatry to permeate into their everyday lives and into their acknowledgement of a higher being. (Isaiah 40:18-31)

11. The Watchman & The Warning! Warnings from the prophets (watchmen) to God’s people • The children of Israel had a lack of reverence for God • Malachi directs his message of judgment to the people by reminding them that God expects reverence. (Mal. 1:6-8)

12. The Watchman & The Warning! Warnings from the prophets (watchmen) to God’s people • The children of Israel had a lack of reverence for God • In the New Testament, Paul encourages Titus to show himself "a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, sound speech that cannot be condemned..." (Titus 2:7-8).

13. The Watchman & The Warning! Warnings from the prophets (watchmen) to God’s people • The children of Israel had a lack of reverence for God • The Hebrew writer tells the Christians that they should "serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear" (Heb. 12:28).

14. The Watchman & The Warning! Warnings from the prophets (watchmen) to God’s people • The children of Israel had a lack of reverence for God • When we look at our own lives, we must ask ourselves if we are showing the proper reverence for God. • Remember that "the LORD takes pleasure in those who fear Him, in those who hope in His mercy" (Ps. 147:11).

15. The Watchman & The Warning! Warnings from the prophets (watchmen) to God’s people • The children of Israel had a lack of knowledge • Hosea speaks to the nation of Israel and gives God's charge against them. "There is no truth or mercy or knowledge of God in the land...My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge" (Hos. 4:1-6).

16. The Watchman & The Warning! Warnings from the prophets (watchmen) to God’s people • The children of Israel had a lack of knowledge • Hosea then reminds them that God is interested in people understanding and being obedient to His word. As God states, "For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings" (6:6)

17. The Watchman & The Warning! Warnings from the prophets (watchmen) to God’s people • The children of Israel had a lack of knowledge • But who was at fault for this lack of knowledge - the priests or the people? Both!

18. The Watchman & The Warning! Warnings from the prophets (watchmen) to God’s people • The children of Israel had a lack of knowledge • In the New Testament, all Christians are priests of God (1 Peter 2:9) and have a responsibility of proclaiming God's word. But how can we proclaim what we do not know?

19. The Watchman & The Warning! Warnings from the prophets (watchmen) to God’s people • The children of Israel had a lack of knowledge • The Hebrew writer chastises Christians who should have improved their knowledge over time. "For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food" (Heb. 5:12).

20. The Watchman & The Warning! Warnings from the prophets (watchmen) to God’s people • The children of Israel had a lack of knowledge • "The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge..." (Prov. 15:14)

21. The Watchman & The Warning! Warnings from the prophets (watchmen) to God’s people • The children of Israel’s worship was in vain • Malachi directs his message of judgment to a people plagued with corrupt priest, wicked practices, and a false sense of security in their relationship with Jehovah. Mal. 1:6-8 states that they were bringing polluted offerings to God.

22. The Watchman & The Warning! Warnings from the prophets (watchmen) to God’s people • The children of Israel’s worship was in vain • The Pharisees were also "trusting in their own ways" during Jesus' ministry and Jesus calls them out for it. • They had manipulated the law to their own benefit • They were honoring God with their lips but not with their hearts

23. The Watchman & The Warning! Warnings from the prophets (watchmen) to God’s people • The children of Israel’s worship was in vain • The Pharisees were also "trusting in their own ways" during Jesus' ministry and Jesus calls them out for it. • Jesus further condemns them for being hypocrites. They were guilty of cleansing the outside but the inside was "full of extortion and self indulgence"

24. The Watchman & The Warning! Warnings from the prophets (watchmen) to God’s people • The children of Israel’s worship was in vain • Paul tells the Christians in Rome that they were to present their bodies as "a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.”(Rom. 12:1) • Are our attitudes right when we are in the presence of God and worshipping Him?

25. The Watchman & The Warning! Warnings from the prophets (watchmen) to God’s people • The children of Israel’s worship was in vain • If our love for God is true, then we will come into the house of the LORD with gladness in our hearts (Ps. 122:1) and strive to worship Him as He wants to be worshipped - with all our heart, soul, strength, and mind!

26. The Watchman & The Warning! Conclusion: The duty of the watchman: Watch and sound the warning! The duty of the hearer: Hear and prepare for what is coming!

27. The Watchman & The Warning! Conclusion: As we face our everyday trials, don’t forget that we have an almighty Watchman who loves us and cares for us.

28. The Watchman & The Warning! “I lift up my eyes to the mountains; where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip; he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord watches over you; the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all harm; he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.” Psalm 121 (NIV)

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